Courtesy: Alonto Adiong FB page
HOUSE trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Wednesday said the Senate impeachment court cannot simply dismiss the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, arguing that senators are constitutionally bound to render a verdict after assuming jurisdiction over the proceedings.
Adiong made the statement amid continued efforts by Duterte’s defense team to question the validity of the impeachment process and seek the dismissal of the case.
“It’s just that they hope in their prayer that because of questioning the entire process, they hope that the Senate would eventually dismiss, which I believe the Senate, I do firmly believe that the Senate understand that that’s not even an option for them as an impeachment court. It’s either to acquit and to convict,” Alonto Adiong told the Kapehan sa Manila Bay media forum.
The House trial spokesperson noted that the Senate had already taken cognizance of the Articles of Impeachment after convening as an impeachment court.
“The Senate already took cognizance, taken jurisdiction over the Articles of Impeachment. They already convened,” he said.
Alonto Adiong expressed confidence that senators understand their constitutional role in the impeachment proceedings and would carry out their duty accordingly.
“So they believe and I do believe firmly that our senators understand their constitutional duty because the House of Representatives has already performed our constitutional duty,” he said.
He stressed that recognizing the Senate’s authority to try the case necessarily means recognizing the House’s constitutional authority to initiate impeachment proceedings.
“Hindi pu-pwedeng ang i-recognize mo lang ay ‘yung constitutional duty ng Senado tapos iku-question mo ‘yung process kung paano ito in the first place napunta sa Senado. Ibig sabihin it has to be the recognition of the entire impeachment process should begin with the initiation,” Alonto Adiong said.
According to Alonto Adiong, the Vice President’s decision to answer before the impeachment court itself demonstrates recognition of the process.
“So when you recognize that and when you say that they will answer in the proper forum, that is actually recognizing the process. Kasi sinasabi naman nila and the fact that they have answered, ‘yun nga lang, wala talagang sagot kasi rehashed naman ‘yung argument, proves that they also do recognize,” he said.
Alonto Adiong also downplayed concerns that possible leadership changes in the Senate could affect the impeachment proceedings.
He said the House prosecution panel respects the Senate as a co-equal branch of government and considers leadership matters to be an internal concern of the chamber.
“We maintain our institutional respect to our co-equal branch,” he said.
“As to whether or not this would affect the impeachment trial because of numbers, again, and let me reiterate also, we respect the Senate, we have the utmost confidence that the Senate would arrive into a sound judgment because they have been given by the Constitution the sole mandate to try and decide,” he said.
According to Alonto Adiong, the prosecution panel remains focused on preparing its case and presenting evidence in a manner that ordinary Filipinos can easily understand.
“We’re coming from the premise that we are confident in our evidence and the potential witnesses that we can provide to the impeachment court,” Alonto Adiong said.
“As far as the House Prosecution panel, our main concern is how do we present our case to the impeachment court in such a way that ordinary Filipino would be able to easily understand.”
Adiong noted that the prosecution team has been conducting mock trials as part of its preparations and out of respect for the impeachment process.
He added that the impeachment proceedings have become more than a case against a sitting vice president and now serve as a test of the country’s constitutional institutions.
“It is actually our civic duty and in fact, based on the recent survey that came out, the ordinary Filipinos do understand that this is part of their civic duty to make sure that the Constitution stands and can weather political pressure. And I do firmly believe that our Senators do understand that,” Alonto Adiong said.
“The Constitution is now under, parang tine-test natin ito. Hindi lang ito trial ng Bise Presidente. Ito rin po ay test kung gaano katibay, katatag ang ating Constitution,” Alonto Adiong said.
