The Senate impeachment court must render a verdict in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case, arguing that dismissal is no longer an option after the chamber assumed jurisdiction over the proceedings, according to house impeachment trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong.
Rep. Adiong issued the statement as Duterte’s defense team continued to challenge the validity of the impeachment process and seek the dismissal of the case.
“It’s just that they hope in their prayer that because of questioning the entire process, they hope that the Senate would eventually dismiss, which I believe the Senate, I do firmly believe that the Senate understand that that’s not even an option for them as an impeachment court. It’s either to acquit and to convict,” Adiong said.
He said the Senate had already taken cognizance of the Articles of Impeachment after convening as an impeachment court, making it duty-bound to proceed with the trial and decide whether to acquit or convict Duterte.
“The Senate already took cognizance, taken jurisdiction over the Articles of Impeachment. They already convened,” he said.
Adiong expressed confidence that senators understand their constitutional role in the impeachment process, just as the House of Representatives had already fulfilled its own duty by initiating the case.
“So they believe and I do believe firmly that our senators understand their constitutional duty because the House of Representatives has already performed our constitutional duty,” he said.
He stressed that the Senate’s authority to try the case cannot be separated from the House’s constitutional authority to initiate impeachment proceedings.
“Hindi pu-pwedeng ang i-recognize mo lang ay ’yung constitutional duty ng Senado tapos iku-question mo ’yung process kung paano ito in the first place napunta sa Senado. Ibig sabihin it has to be the recognition of the entire impeachment process should begin with the initiation,” Adiong said.
According to Adiong, Duterte’s decision to file an answer before the impeachment court itself showed that her camp recognized the process, even though he claimed the filing merely repeated earlier arguments.
“So when you recognize that and when you say that they will answer in the proper forum, that is actually recognizing the process. Kasi sinasabi naman nila and the fact that they have answered, ’yun nga lang, wala talagang sagot kasi rehashed naman ’yung argument, proves that they also do recognize,” he said.
Adiong also downplayed concerns that possible leadership changes in the Senate could affect the impeachment proceedings, saying the House prosecution panel respects the Senate as a co-equal branch of government.
“We maintain our institutional respect to our co-equal branch,” he said.
“As to whether or not this would affect the impeachment trial because of numbers, again, and let me reiterate also, we respect the Senate, we have the utmost confidence that the Senate would arrive into a sound judgment because they have been given by the Constitution the sole mandate to try and decide,” he added.
Adiong said the House prosecution panel remains focused on preparing its case and presenting evidence in a way that ordinary Filipinos can understand.
“We’re coming from the premise that we are confident in our evidence and the potential witnesses that we can provide to the impeachment court,” he said.
“As far as the House Prosecution panel, our main concern is how do we present our case to the impeachment court in such a way that ordinary Filipino would be able to easily understand,” he added.
He said the prosecution team has been conducting mock trials as part of its preparations and out of respect for the impeachment process.
Adiong said the proceedings have become more than a case against a sitting vice president, describing them as a test of the country’s constitutional institutions.
“It is actually our civic duty and in fact, based on the recent survey that came out, the ordinary Filipinos do understand that this is part of their civic duty to make sure that the Constitution stands and can weather political pressure. And I do firmly believe that our Senators do understand that,” Adiong said.
“The Constitution is now under, parang tine-test natin ito. Hindi lang ito trial ng Bise Presidente. Ito rin po ay test kung gaano katibay, katatag ang ating Constitution,” he added.