Impeachment talks a ‘war of opinions’ pending trial - lawmaker

Metro Manila, Philippines - Discussions on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte are a “war of opinions” as the Impeachment Court has yet to begin the trial and hear the evidence, a House lawmaker said on Thursday, July 17.

La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V said the public has been talking about the impeachment pending the proceedings.

“‘Yun po ang gusto ng taumbayan: ‘yung engaged sila at alam nila ‘yung mga nangyayari. Pero hanggat hindi na-o-open up ‘yung trial, hindi nag-uumpisa ‘yung trial, ay war of opinions ang lahat ng nangyayari sa’tin,” he said in a press briefing.

[Translation: That is what the people want: to be engaged and aware of what is happening. But until the trial is open, everything is just a war of opinions.]

“Bakit tayo makikipag-debate sa opinyon ng iba’t ibang tao, iba’t ibang actors? Dapat sa panahon ngayon, ang pinagdedebatehan saka paglalabanan na is facts and evidence,” he added.

[Translation: Why would we debate about people’s opinions? By this time, the debate and exchanges should be about facts and evidence.]

Ortega said he believes that both the defense and prosecution sides are prepared for the trial.

The House of Representatives transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate in February and the Impeachment Court convened four months after.

‘Not defective’

Meanwhile, Ortega stressed that the impeachment case was not defective.

This was his response to the comments of Office of the Vice President spokesperson Ruth Castelo, who said that the country could save millions of pesos if the impeachment case - which she described as “technically defective from the beginning” - would end.

“I guess she better reconsider her statements,” Ortega said.

“Again, millions and millions? How many millions kaya? Sa’n makakatipid na banda? ‘Pag nasagot siguro ‘yung mga tanong na ganu’n baka ma-convince ako du’n sa argument niya,” he said.

[Translation: How many millions and how could there be savings? If she responds to the questions, I may be convinced with her argument.]

Senator Joel Villanueva said the Senate may reconvene as an Impeachment Court on Aug. 4, more than a month since it first met.

Duterte was impeached on the grounds of graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and other high crimes.