The House prosecution panel said rallies related to the case of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta should not affect the scheduled July 6 opening of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson of the House prosecution panel, said the concerns raised by those who joined the rallies involve a separate legal matter and have no bearing on the Articles of Impeachment pending before the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court.
“But then again, when you try to connect this with the impeachment, as far as we know, there should be no reason for the impeachment trial to be delayed. We do not see any connection whatsoever,” Alonto Adiong said.
Alonto Adiong said the House prosecution panel respects the constitutional right of Filipinos to peacefully assemble and express their views.
“We respect their position. We respect their right to peacefully assemble and to express whatever advocacies or positions they believe are important for the country to know,” Alonto Adiong said.
Public reports said the rallies were held following the Ombudsman’s announcement that plunder charges would be filed against Marcoleta.
Alonto Adiong stressed that developments involving Marcoleta should be treated separately from the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.
“As far as the House prosecution is concerned, we remain focused on complying with the Senate’s directives. We continue to prepare for the proceedings and are optimistic that everything will move forward according to schedule. As far as the impeachment trial is concerned, it has been proceeding smoothly as planned,” he said.
He also noted that preparations at the Senate are continuing ahead of the July 6 trial.
“There’s already the Senate President himself personally conducting an ocular inspection of the Senate premises to ensure that everything is in place for the trial to proceed,” Alonto Adiong said.
Asked whether the rallies should be viewed in relation to the impeachment proceedings, Alonto Adiong said the prosecution sees them as involving an entirely separate legal issue.
“I would not directly conclude that they are related to the impeachment because the concerns being raised involve a separate legal matter. We do not see any connection whatsoever between the two,” he said.
Alonto Adiong reiterated that each legal proceeding should be allowed to move forward independently.
“Our position is simple. The case involving Senator Marcoleta and the impeachment trial of the Vice President are separate legal proceedings. Each should be allowed to take its own course in accordance with the law. The impeachment trial should proceed based on the Constitution, the Senate Rules on Impeachment, and the schedule already set by the Impeachment Court,” Alonto Adiong said.