Remote voting or online participation in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte could weaken public confidence in the proceedings and make the constitutional process appear less serious, according to the House prosecution side.
For the prosecution panel, the impeachment trial is not an ordinary legislative proceeding that can be handled through Zoom or remote voting. It is a “sacred duty” that requires senator-judges to be physically present, fully attentive, and actively engaged in hearing the evidence.
“Naiintindihan naman natin na the impeachment process, the impeachment trial is a sacred duty, especially for the senators, to try and decide,” House trial spokesman Zia Alonto Adiong said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
“So napaka-importante ito. This is not just an ordinary legislative function where pwede kang mag-Zoom o pwede kang mag-remotely vote,” he added.
The House Assistant Majority Leader said the prosecution panel believes senator-judges must be physically present to personally hear testimonies, examine evidence, observe the demeanor of witnesses, and fairly assess the merits of the case.
“Ang pagkakaalam po namin, physical dapat ‘yung presence ng mga huwes,” Alonto Adiong said.
He compared the impeachment proceedings to regular court hearings, where judges are expected to be physically present because firsthand evaluation of evidence and witness credibility is crucial to rendering a fair judgment.
“Even if the regular court proceedings ang mga huwes ay nariyan because it is indispensable to arrive into a fair judgment for a senator on the merits of the case,” he said.
“Without having to physically evaluate and examine the evidences and to direct cross-examine witnesses who would be in the witness stand,” he added.
Alonto Adiong stressed that the trial involves the constitutional accountability of an impeachable official and could determine whether Duterte should be removed from office.
“Ito pinag-uusapan dito, accountability ng isang impeachable officers,” he said.
He warned that senator-judges who skip physical attendance while taking part remotely could be seen as not taking their role seriously.
“I think on that basis alone, that this is a sacred duty, not to be able to be present all the time is an indication that you are not taking seriously your sacred duty, which resonates negatively to the public,” Alonto Adiong said.
He said physical attendance is necessary not only for the proper conduct of the trial, but also for the public to judge whether senator-judges are performing their duties fairly and faithfully.
“So kailangan po para sa amin, kailangan po talaga na physical ‘yung presence ng ating mga huwes na senador,” Alonto Adiong said.
“For us, for the public to be able to at least derive from their own conclusion the way they have seen the proceedings na fair at talagang tapat ‘yung naging performance ng ating mga senador at huwes,” he added.