A House leader on Friday urged senators to reject any attempt to dismiss the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte through technical or procedural grounds before evidence is heard in a public trial.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, chairperson of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, said the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, must allow both the prosecution and the Vice President’s camp to present their evidence and arguments before any judgment is made.
“The constitutional duty of the Senate is to proceed to trial and receive evidence before rendering judgment,” he said.
“May seryosong pangamba ngayon na baka ang impeachment trial ay mauwi sa dismissal or ma-remand pabalik sa Kamara bago pa marinig ang ebidensiya,” he added.
The solon raised the concern after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, in a May 14 letter to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, said the Senate had taken “proper order” of the impeachment case and would proceed to its consideration.
The letter also stated that the Articles of Impeachment would be included in the Calendar for Ordinary Business for referral to the impeachment court, which is set to convene on May 18 at 3 pm or “at the soonest possible time, absent any question on the rules and procedure relating to the transmitted Articles.”
Adiong said the language of the letter has raised concern because it did not categorically state when the full trial would begin or when evidence would be presented and examined.
“Every time SP Cayetano speaks, he says the Senate will immediately convene as an impeachment court. Pero never pa natin naririnig nang malinaw ay kung kailan nila sisimulan ang trial, kailan maririnig ang ebidensiya and whether they will reject any motion to dismiss without first hearing the case,” he remarked.
He said convening the impeachment court is only the first step. The more important question, he added, is whether the Senate will allow the case to proceed to an actual trial instead of entertaining motions that could end or delay the proceedings before the merits are heard.
The House of Representatives earlier voted 257-25-9 to approve the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte, exceeding the one-third constitutional requirement needed to transmit the case to the Senate for trial.
The impeachment charges include allegations involving the alleged misuse and irregular liquidation of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged bribery of education officials, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“The Senate should not entertain a motion to dismiss without a hearing. Kung may gustong magkuwestiyon, gawin nila sa tamang proseso, pero huwag nilang patayin ang kaso sa technicalities bago pa makaharap ang ebidensiya,” Adiong said.
He warned that the phrase “absent any question on the rules and procedure relating to the transmitted Articles” could be used to raise procedural challenges that may derail the case before the Senate reaches the substance of the allegations.
He said the Constitution gives the House the sole power to impeach and the Senate the duty to try and decide impeachment cases. Because of this, he said, the upper chamber should not use procedure as a substitute for trial.
He also said the public has the right to see whether the allegations against Duterte can be proven or disproven, especially after her camp repeatedly said she is ready to answer the charges in the proper forum.
Adiong warned that dismissing or remanding the Articles of Impeachment without a genuine hearing would only deepen public suspicion that the Senate leadership change was meant to weaken accountability and prevent the Vice President from facing the evidence.
“At this point, the Senate must be very careful because the country is watching. They should not convene merely to stop the trial, but to begin it,” he said.
He urged Cayetano and the Senate majority to clearly commit that the impeachment court will hear the substance of the case and will not allow procedural maneuvering to bury the proceedings before they start.
“Our appeal is simple: hear the case, receive the evidence and let the truth be tested in the open. Anything less will look like an escape hatch for accountability,” the solon said.