Metro Manila, Philippines – Some senator-judges said recent arrests and investigations against fellow lawmakers were attempts at distracting them from the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“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?” Senator-judge Robin Padilla told the Impeachment Court on Wednesday, July 15, the sixth day of the trial.
[Translation: What’s happening in this courtroom now, I don’t know if it’s coincidence or if it is intentional.]
Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are under arrest for plunder charges.
Padilla pointed out the ombudsman’s order for himself and Senator-judge Alan Cayetano to respond to the obstruction of justice complaints against them for allegedly helping Sen. Ronald dela Rosa escape from authorities over an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
He also highlighted the planned probe of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on alleged anomalies surrounding the funding, bidding, and construction of the 2019 SEA Games and a supposed ₱10-billion budget insertion from Congress. NBI director Melvin Matibag announced the “major case” on Tuesday, July 14
Cayetano was the chairperson of the SEA Games Organizing Committee at the time.
In his own manifestation, Cayetano accused NBI Director Melvin Matibag of trying to intimidate him.
“The chilling effect is there, but am I intimidated? Wala na akong choice. Ilalaban ko na ito, gagawin ko yun ang dapat kong gawin bumaliktad man ang sitwasyon, si President [Ferdinand] Marcos Jr.] ang ini-impeach and I felt a certain way, ilalaban ko rin,” Cayetano said.
Senator-judge Pia Cayetano echoed her brother’s sentiments against Matibag.
“He could do it quietly, go ahead, pero ano purpose niyan nagyayabang siya? Is he trying to intimidate us not to ask him tough questions when he is our resource person next week? I do not know but those actions are not acceptable, possibly contemptible,” Pia Cayetano said.
Matibag is expected to testify on Duterte’s alleged grave threats against the presidential family on Tuesday, July 21.
