Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre on Saturday warned that the ongoing political "noise" surrounding the Senate should not distract the public from the significance of the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Speaking at a Saturday news forum, Acidre said he remains confident that the Senate will fulfill its constitutional mandate as an impeachment court but expressed concern that political developments and issues involving some senators could divert public attention from the proceedings.
"Ang worry ko lang, ang worry ko lang is kung sa lahat ng ingay na ito, hindi kaya madistract ang taumbayan," Acidre said.
He stressed that lawmakers are "duty-bound" to carry out the impeachment process, just as members of the House of Representatives were obligated to act on the impeachment complaints filed against the Vice President.
"It's really more of paano natin establish 'yung...kasi technically they cannot derail it. We're all duty-bound. In the same way kami sa House, we had no choice but were bound by the constitutional process to initiate the impeachment after may nagsampa ng complaints," he said.
Acidre maintained that senators have "no choice" but to perform their constitutional duty in the impeachment proceedings.
He also downplayed concerns that reports of a possible leadership shake-up in the Senate could affect preparations for the trial, saying any impact would likely be limited to scheduling adjustments.
"May tiwala pa naman ako na sa kaparehong paraan na ginampanan ng mga miyembro ng Kamara ang aming rule sa prosesong ito ay gagampanan din naman ng mga senador ang kanilang rule under the constitution to serve as the impeachment court. I don’t see any risk of the doubt at the moment," Acidre said.
While expressing confidence in the Senate, Acidre urged political leaders to avoid creating distractions that could cloud public understanding of the impeachment case.
"Ako naniniwala na gagawin at walang choice ang Senado kundi gawin at ginampanan ang tungkulin nila, klaro ‘yun. Pero itong mga ingay ng individual senators sabihin natin at kung ano pa ang nangyayari ngayon sa political scene natin. Sana hindi ito maging rason to muddle the issue," he said.
"Hindi rin makakatulong sa taumbayan natin, sa mga nanunuod, sa mga pumapansin at nanunuri na napakaraming issues na pinapalabas ngayon when all of our national attention should be given on this impeachment trial," he added.
Acidre said he does not expect the trial to be delayed despite speculation about possible changes in the Senate's leadership or composition.
"In the end they just have to fulfill our role. And we have full trust that the Senate, is an institution also will fulfill their part. Ako personally, unless there is a matter of the scheduling or the composition of the reorganization of the chamber that could cause some delay but kung masasabi nating madedelay i dont think so," he said.
Meanwhile, the House Prosecution panel is continuing its review of evidence presented during previous hearings as part of its preparations for the impeachment trial against Duterte.
Acidre said the House is also coordinating with various sectors and stakeholders monitoring the impeachment process.
Despite the ongoing preparations, he said the House continues to deliberate on proposed legislation and pursue measures aimed at addressing economic concerns and other issues affecting Filipinos.
