The accountability of public officials is part of constitutional principles ratified by Filipinos, Senator Risa Hontiveros clarified.
Hontiveros discussed, on Tuesday, July 15, in an exclusive interview at Damdaming Bayan, the impeachment trial of Vice President (VP) Sara Duterte. According to the Senator, the Senate impeachment court will invite the Vice President. However, the latter is free to decide whether she will attend the trial.
“I believe that kapag yung impeached official ay hindi dumalo, presumed na ieenter ng korte para sa kanya ang isang posisyon na not guilty plea. Gayunpaman, magpapatuloy pa rin yung pagbasa ng articles at pag presenta nung mga ebidensya at witnesses nga po,” she said.
“Kaya isa siya sa mga unang-unang iimbitahin o inimbita na ng korte at siya ay malaya talaga at may karapatang dumalo. Pero malaya din po siya kung ano ang maging desisyon niya, kung dumalo o hindi dumalo, basta’t malinaw naman sa bawat stakeholder kung ano yung mga tungkulin namin,” she added.
With the given leeway for VP Duterte, Hontiveros was asked whether this would affect the court’s fair delivery.
Would it be a Miscarriage of Justice?
The Senator explained that the court cannot vote to convict or acquit an official without first having the witnesses speak up and evidence presented to them.
“Hindi naman pwedeng boboto kami either to convict na wala kaming narinig pa. ‘Yun yung magiging miscarriage of justice sa impeached official. Hindi rin naman pwedeng wala pa kaming narinig na ebidensya at witnesses ay boboto na kami either acquit or dismiss, miscarriage of justice din ‘yon,” she emphasized.
The impeachment process, as Hontiveros pointed out, also takes into account what Filipinos have to say on the matter.
“Hindi lang sa korte, hindi lang sa impeachment process mismo, naniniwala ako pati sa mamamayang Pilipino. Kasi yung accountability of public officials, prinsipyo ‘yon ng konstitusyon na ni-ratify ng mamamayan,” she pointed out.
“Ang taas po ng concern at interes ng ating mga kababayan sa mga isyung nakapaloob sa impeachment trial na ‘to. Deserve po nilang marinig din. At sila rin po ay magtimbang at in a way makapag desisyon din para sa kanilang sarili,” she added.
The Trial Continues
VP Duterte previously sought to dismiss the fourth impeachment complaint filed against her, stating that it was “nothing more than a scrap of paper.”
The 35-page Answer Ad Cautelam filed on June 23 insisted that the complaint was an action that never had any legal effect as it violated the One-Year Bar Rule under Section 3 (5) Article XI of the 1987 Constitution.
Subsequently, Hontiveros mentioned that the House Prosecutors had also submitted a reply to the Vice President’s Answer Ad Cautelam. Moreover, Hontiveros said the impeachment process continues and that both sides can file a motion or a plea.
The most important part of the trial is for all the evidence to be presented before the impeachment court, including the witnesses. This process allows the court to weigh both sides and decide whether to acquit or convict VP Duterte.
“Ibig sabihin kung yung isang panig ay handang handa. At dapat lang kasi mabigat itong tungkulin na binibigay ng konstitusyon, lalo na sa aming mga senator judges. Kami rin po, ako rin po naghahanda,” she ended.
