Senator-judge Robin Padilla questioned the timing of recent legal developments involving fellow senator-judges Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta during the sixth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Wednesday, July 15.
In his two-minute manifestation before the Senate impeachment court, Padilla said he was uncertain whether the events were merely coincidental or intentional.
“Ang isang damdaming masasabi ko pong nagtatanong, sapagkat ang mga nangyayari po sa ating hukuman sa mga oras na ito, hindi ko po alam kung ito ba ay eksakto lang na nangyayari o ito po ba ay sinasadya?” Padilla said.
He cited the legal troubles faced by Estrada and Marcoleta, saying, “Katulad po ng pagkakulong ng ating senator-judge na si Senator Jinggoy Estrada at si Senator Rodante Marcoleta.”
Padilla also mentioned the timing of other developments, including Ombudsman-related matters involving him and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, as well as the investigation into an incident during the Southeast Asian Games after Cayetano questioned the NBI Director’s trip to Bangkok.
“Tanong ko lamang po sa ating mga kasama, dapat po ba tayong mangamba? Dapat po ba kaming mangamba? At tayo po ay parang eksakto naman lahat nito?” Padilla asked.
He emphasized that the Senate impeachment court has the constitutional authority to conduct proceedings independently, adding, “Hindi ba po tayo ay malayang korte? Tayo po ay may karapatan na ibinibigay ng Konstitusyon na magsagawa po ng pagdinig.”
