HOUSE trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur has urged the Senate impeachment court to apply its restrictions on attacks against the court equally to both sides.
He made the call after Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s spokesperson Paolo Panelo continued to question the proceedings and the prosecution’s withdrawal of three charges.
“Matagal na po natin sinasabi ito na yung sub judice rule should also apply equally on both sides including those who’ve been acting as the conveyor of the position taken by both panels,” he told a recent press briefing.
Panelo had called discussion of Duterte’s possible replacement premature and distracting.
He also raised questions about the conviction threshold and claimed the prosecution’s withdrawal of articles wasted public resources and denied Duterte an opportunity to answer the abandoned charges.
Responding to those criticisms, Adiong defended the Senate’s role in setting the conduct of the trial.
“I think it’s very clear that the Constitution speaks about the exclusive mandate of the Senate acting as an impeachment court to adopt its own rules,” he said.
The lawmaker accused some of Duterte’s supporters of repeatedly raising procedural disputes to cast doubt on the proceedings.
“Because nakikita naman natin din na part of the strategy nila to actually cause doubt in the minds of the public,” Alonto Adiong said.
He also rejected the allegations that the government’s accountability work had wasted resources.
The prosecution is pursuing Article II after the court accepted the withdrawal of the confidential funds, bribery and grave threats articles.
“Hindi po nasasayang ‘yan kung ang pinag-uusapan po natin ay holding impeachable officers or public officers for that matter to account,” he said.
He did not name a preferred successor or announce a prosecution position on who should replace Duterte.
He said the court needed to make its expectations clear and enforce them consistently when either side questioned its integrity.
“When it comes to reminding the public not to assail the integrity of the court, it should be applied equally and should also be pursued continuously,” he said.
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