A party-list representative warned senators against using the revived Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on flood control anomalies to shift public attention away from the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The solon said the sudden push to reopen highly publicized Senate investigations, particularly those linking selected House members and impeachment prosecutors to alleged flood control irregularities, raises questions about timing and motive as the impeachment proceedings draw closer.
“Napakalinaw ng nangyayari. Habang papalapit ang impeachment trial, biglang may pagmamadali na buhayin ang mga Senate hearings na ang malinaw na epekto ay ilihis ang atensyon ng publiko mula sa impeachment proceedings laban sa Bise Presidente,” Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said.
He said the sequence of events could lead the public to suspect that the hearings are being used to damage the credibility of the House prosecution panel before the Senate impeachment court formally hears the case.
“Hindi tuloy maiwasan ng taumbayan na isipin na may koordinadong political demolition job laban sa House prosecutors at sa institusyong nagsampa ng impeachment complaint,” he added.
Acidre said the recent Senate leadership realignment, followed by the immediate focus on Blue Ribbon hearings, has created concern that political narratives are being shaped ahead of the trial.
“The sequence of events is deeply disturbing. Una, nagkaroon ng biglaang pagbabago sa liderato ng Senado. Sunod, may agarang pagtutok sa Blue Ribbon hearings. At ngayon, tila inuuna pa ang media spectacle kaysa constitutional duty na dinggin ang impeachment case,” he said.
He clarified that no public official should be shielded from investigation, including members of the House of Representatives. However, he said legislative inquiries must be fair, objective, and not used to influence an active constitutional process.
“Walang problema sa imbestigasyon kung patas, objective, at hindi politically timed. Pero kung ang layunin ay pahinain ang kredibilidad ng House prosecutors bago pa man magsimula ang paglilitis, ibang usapan na iyon,” he stressed.
He also warned against turning the Senate into a venue for political retaliation, saying senators sitting as impeachment judges are expected to act with fairness and restraint.
“The Senate impeachment court is not supposed to be converted into a political war room. Ang mandato ng Senado sa impeachment ay maging patas na hukuman, hindi campaign headquarters ng kahit sinong political faction,” Acidre said.
According to him, the central issue remains the impeachment trial of a high-ranking public official, and the Senate must not allow side controversies to overwhelm its constitutional duty.
“Hindi dapat ginagamit ang kapangyarihan ng Senado para gumawa ng smoke screen. Ang tunay na issue rito ay impeachment trial ng isang mataas na opisyal ng bansa. Iyan ang constitutional duty na inaasahan ng taumbayan,” he said.
He noted that the House prosecution team remains focused on presenting evidence and proving the Articles of Impeachment before the Senate impeachment court.
“Hindi kami matitinag ng demolition politics. The House acted on overwhelming evidence, overwhelming votes, and overwhelming constitutional mandate. Hindi ito away-pulitika lamang. Usapin ito ng accountability at pananagutan sa taumbayan,” he said.
He said the public must remain watchful against attempts to drown out the impeachment process with political noise.
“Sa huli, ang pinakamahalagang tanong ay simple lang: Hahayaan ba nating malunod sa political noise ang isang constitutional process na napakahalaga sa demokrasya?” Acidre added.