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GMA Network
14 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Dismissal of impeachment raps vs. Sara without hearing evidence a disservice, solons say
'At the end of the day, ano ba yung basis ng motion to dismiss? Each Senator should act as an impartial judge, whether or not they are in favor of the accused or not," Manila Rep. Ernix Dionesio said. The Senate impeachment court dismissing the complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte without hearing the evidence is a disservice to the Filipino people and a clear partiality, House members said on Thursday. Senate President Francis Escudero said the day before that the impeachment court may vote to dismiss the impeachment complaint against the Vice President outright by a majority vote in the event such motion is put forward, given that there is no motion that is prohibited. 'At the end of the day, ano ba yung basis ng motion to dismiss? Each Senator should act as an impartial judge, whether or not they are in favor of the accused or not," Manila Rep. Ernix Dionesio said. "Doon mo makikita na may pinapanigan agad kapag nagmo-motion to dismiss without hearing a piece or pieces of evidence. Wala pang pinipresentan, gusto na nalang i-dismiss,' he added. (What is the basis of motion to dismiss to begin with? If a Senator-judge will make a motion to dismiss without hearing the pieces of evidence, then that Senator-judge is clearly partial because he or she wants a dismissal without hearing the evidence.) 'The people are watching, history will write itself now. We don't want to overstep, but it is our opinion that the impeachment is the best way to see whether or not guilty or not guilty after [the Senator-judges] seeing the pieces of evidence,' Dionesio added. Lanao Del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said senator-judges should base their decision whether to convict or acquit an impeachable official on the merits of the complaint rather than dismissing it outright. 'I still maintain my optimism that they will decide based on the merits of the evidence. There are senators who have already prejudged the outcome or already have their own leanings, their own biases," Adiong said. "Wala naman problema if they vote for either to convict or to acquit. Basta ang position lang po namin is to respect what the Constitution says and let the impeachment process proceed,' he added. (If the motion to dismiss will be put is no problem if a Senator-judge want to acquit or convict. But our position that we should respect what the Constitution says remains.) The impeachment complaint filed by over 200 lawmakers back in February 5 accuses the Vice President of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes mainly over alleged misuse of around P612.5 million worth of confidential funds and threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., his wife Liza and the President's cousin and Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte. 'It's not the question of can they do it? It's the question of why should they do it?" Adiong said as regards the impeachment court dismissing the complaint without hearing the evidence. "There is a verified impeachment na complaint... allegations that constitutes high crimes, tantamount to betrayal of public trust, among others, laid down in the public deserves to know the truth," Adiong said. The full-blown presentation of evidence in an impeachment trial, Adiong said, will also serve justice to the Vice President. 'The only way for us to find out the truth and at the same time give due process to the defendant is to continue with the impeachment trial,' Adiong said. –NB, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Chel Diokno, Marian Rivera names flagged in OVP fund receipts
House lawmakers have raised concerns after the names of lawyer Chel Diokno and actress Marian Rivera appeared in documents tied to the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) controversial confidential fund spending. House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong questioned the authenticity of names listed in the acknowledgment receipts submitted by the OVP to the Commission on Audit (COA). 'There is a 'Chel Diokno,' and that exists as an informant, intelligence informant, possible intelligence informant who really received acknowledgement receipts or payment,' Adiong said. As for Marian Rivera, Adiong said, 'It is possible that there is a Marian Rivera. I mean, with due respect to the veteran actress, Marian is a common name. And even the last name, the family name Rivera, is a very common Filipino surname.' The issue first drew attention when receipts contained names like 'Mary Grace Piattos' and 'Jay Kamote,' later followed by 'Miggy Mango' and multiple versions of 'Dodong,' which PSA confirmed had no matching records in their database. Adiong emphasized that while some of the names may be real, others might be aliases. He said the documents reviewed by the House showed inconsistencies and irregularities. Some of the receipts containing these names were reportedly not shown during earlier hearings of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability. Adiong said the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should verify the identities listed, citing the agencies' authority and expertise in validating public records.
