House prosecutor, complainants nix Tolentino proposal on Sara Duterte impeach trial
A member of the House prosecution panel and several signatories to the impeachment complaints are opposing Senator Francis Tolentino's proposal to narrow down the seven Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.
'We can't comment on it right now. The prosecutors have yet to meet since the release of that timeline. But personally, I don't think it would be possible on our part to just consolidate it with the two articles. That would be a betrayal of the full Articles of Impeachment that we have filed,' Representative Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez told reporters in an ambush interview.
Gutierrez said that based on Tolentino's proposed timeline, only two days will be given to the prosecutors' presentation of evidence.
'I think hindi siya sapat (It will not be enough), if we take a look. Kung tama pa yung nakikita kong timeline, parang dalawang araw lang yung nabibigay (From the timeline that I saw, only two days would be given) for presentation evidence. And if you were to divide it into yung seven articles, that really will not be enough time,' Gutierrez said.
He clarified, however, that the House Prosecution Panel has not formally discussed Tolentino's proposals, adding that they are continuously preparing for the trial.
The panel still maintains that the impeachment trial can continue from the 19th Congress to the 20th Congress.
'The prosecution still stands by that position that the impeachment can cross over to the 20th Congress as per jurisprudence of the US law,' Gutierrez said.
On the Catholic Church's vigil at the Senate, Gutierrez said, 'It just speaks of the clamor po siguro ng public. Not for whether you're pro or against any acquittal or conviction but this is just to hear the trial lang naman.'
Over the weekend, Tolentino presented the possible schedule the Senate may use for Duterte's impeachment trial proceedings:
June 11: Constitutes impeachment court; 10 days for submission of the respondent's response
June 22: Reply of prosecutor
June 23: Submission of trial brief; Opening statement in the afternoon
June 24-25: Presentation of evidence on the part of prosecution
June 25-26: Defense
June 27: Rebuttal; prosecution in the morning and defense in the afternoon
June 28: 1 hour each for oral argument, defense, and prosecution
June 29: Closed door meeting
June 30: Render of judgement
However, Tolentino has yet to present this to the Senate.
Tolentino also said the prosecution can narrow down the seven Articles of Impeachment, just like during the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona, where it was narrowed down from eight articles to three articles.
Signatories
Several House members who signed the impeachment complaints also thumbed down Tolentino's proposal.
Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña said this will not give the House prosecution panel enough time to present evidence against Duterte.
'Kailangan ng impeachment case natin ng fair day in court. At hindi siya magkakaroon ng fair day in court kung mamadaliin naman ngayon. Dapat maalala nila na ang mandato ng Senado ay litisin, hindi palusutin. Alam natin 'pag minadali, kulang yung oras sa dami ng mga ebidensya na ipipresenta,' Cendaña told reporters an in ambush interview.
(The impeachment case needs a fair day in court. And the Vice President won't have a fair day in court if the proceedings would be rushed. They should remember that the Senate's mandate is to prosecute not dismiss. We all know that if it would be rushed, there won't be enough time time due to number of evidence we will be presenting.)
'Sana ma-realize nila na it's always the Constitution over personal ambition. Yun ang mahalaga. Hindi ito parang si Carlos Yulo na sa kaka-gymnastics nila, mental gymnastics, kaka-tumbling at kaka-split eh mapapalusot nila yung kanilang poon,' he added.
(They should realize that it's always the Constitution which should prevail over personal ambition.)
Cendaña also pointed out Tolentino's various positions on the impeachment.
'Kasi kung makikita natin yung nag-propose, 'di ba? Originally, gusto nila sabihin na walang jurisdiction yung 20th Congress. Alam naman natin yung kanyang record sa presinto at yung kanyang loyalty. Tapos bigla ngayon, gusto naman niya madaliin. And so talagang suspect yung intent doon sa pag-propose nitong bagong timeline,' Cendaña stressed.
(Originally, they said the 20th Congress has no jurisdiction. We all know his record and his loyalty. Then all of a sudden, he wants things rushed. So the proposed timeline is suspect.)
Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas also opposed Tolentino's proposed impeachment calendar.
'Actually, no one can dictate kung ano yung timeline, di ba? Alam natin na ang mas gusto ng taongbayan is to see yung impeachment trial mag-proceed. And from there ay makita yung mga substantial talaga na kailangang pag-usapan doon sa usapin ng impeachment. Kasi di mo naman yun magagawa ng isang araw lang at parang hindi din naman yun sapat, parang ganoon,' Brosas told reporters in an ambush interview.
'So ang gusto natin sabihin dito, the impeachment trial, hindi siya bound by the legislative calendar. We are still standing on that, na hindi siya dapat magpatali doon sa usapin na hanggang June 30 lang. So mas substantial ang mga discussion, mas marami tayong makita ng mga ebedensya, mas marami tayong malaman. Yung mga tanong ng mga taong bayan, kaugnay dito sa impeachment ay masagot, mas okay para sa atin,' Brosas added.
House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong, however, said that he will leave it to the Senate to decide on the impeachment timeline.
'From the very start, sinasabi naman natin irerespeto natin kung anong decision ng Senado from the very beginning. Now, we respect if that's the call of the Senate to hold the impeachment trial starting 11 up to 30,' Adiong said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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