Proceed with VP impeach trial’

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MANILA, Philippines — Diverting and undermining the stalled impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should be the last thing the senators should do, House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said.

“The biggest challenge that we have in the impeachment trial that will be happening, that is already happening in the Senate, is fake news,” she told Bilyonaryo News Channel yesterday, apparently in reference to internal wrangling among majority and minority senators.

The fake news she was referring to was Sen. Imee Marcos’ accusations that her brother, President Marcos, along with congressmen and minority senators, were hatching a plot to keep themselves in power beyond 2028 through a no-election scheme and derail Duterte’s plans.

For Garin, the impeachment trial should not be reduced to political noise because the country is waiting for answers on the specific complaints against Duterte that were transmitted to the Senate.

Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog party-list had the same sentiments.

“Our challenge to the Senate, and with all due respect to our friends in the Senate, is for them to focus their attention on the facts, on what will happen to the impeachment trial because that is what they should be resolving right now,” he suggested.

“Whatever leadership crisis they may have, or whatever political crisis they have there, we can all put that in the right context once the basis of evidence has been laid out. They should not be sowing fears to Filipinos about conspiracy theories and what not,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives’ team for the impeachment trial believes there is no extraordinary situation now that will justify the proposed rule change that seeks to allow senators to participate and vote in proceedings remotely.

“We strongly believe that impeachment proceedings require personal presence, personal accountability and full attention from every senator-judge. We do not have a pandemic or any extraordinary situation to justify online participation,” prosecution team spokesman Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said.

Committee changes

Meanwhile, more House lawmakers who voted against Duterte’s impeachment lost their leadership posts in committee chairmanships in the chamber.

During Tuesday’s plenary session, the House approved the motion of Deputy Majority Leader Arnan Panaligan to remove Ako Ilocano party-list Rep. Richelle Singson as chair of the House committee on welfare of children and replace her with Nanay party-list Florabel Yatco.

The House also approved Panaligan’s motion to replace other lawmakers in their respective posts.