A senior House leader has voiced support for a proposal to allow the use of both Filipino and English in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the trial must remain accessible to ordinary Filipinos rather than confined to legal and political circles.
The proposal was included in a Manifestation with Proposal on Certain Additional Pre-Trial Matters filed by House prosecutors before the Senate Impeachment Court, aimed at establishing clearer, more practical rules for the conduct of the trial.
Under the proposal, lawyers and witnesses would be permitted to use either Filipino or English during hearings, depending on which language they are more comfortable with.
Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V said the impeachment trial involves questions of public accountability and the handling of public funds, making it essential that citizens can clearly understand the proceedings.
“Ang impeachment trial ay hindi lang para sa mga abogado at mga politiko. Para ito sa sambayanang Pilipino,” Ortega said.
He stressed that public comprehension should be a priority, especially in a case that involves scrutiny of government actions and use of state resources.
“Kung ang pinag-uusapan ay pananagutan sa bayan at paggamit ng pera ng bayan, dapat naiintindihan din ng bayan ang nangyayari sa paglilitis,” he added.
The Deputy Speaker said allowing witnesses to speak in their preferred language could improve clarity and reduce the risk of misinterpretation in testimony.
“Minsan mas malinaw lumabas ang katotohanan kapag ang isang tao ay nagsasalita sa wikang pinakakomportable niya,” he said, noting that complex legal proceedings should not be made unnecessarily difficult for witnesses or the public.
Ortega clarified that the proposal does not remove English from the proceedings but simply expands linguistic flexibility to ensure clearer communication.
“Walang inaalis sa proseso. Dinadagdagan lang natin ang paraan para mas maintindihan ito ng publiko,” he said.
He also said greater transparency in language use could help curb misinformation and strengthen public trust in the process.
“Kapag mismong taong-bayan ang nakakarinig at nakakaintindi sa mga testimonya at ebidensya, mas mahirap baluktutin ang katotohanan,” he noted.
The solon added that the prosecution’s proposal reflects an effort to keep the impeachment proceedings focused on evidence, rather than political noise, while improving public accessibility to the trial.