LANAO del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Monday described plans by a group of senators to continue a Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry outside Senate premises as a distraction from the impending trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, which he said should remain the chamber’s primary focus after convening as an impeachment court.
“It only validates our previous observation that this is just a PR stunt to divert the attention of the public from the issue of impeachment,” Alonto Adiong, spokesperson of the House prosecution panel, said during a press conference.
Alonto Adiong made the statement when asked about reports that senators allied with former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano were planning to hold a separate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing despite ongoing leadership issues in the Senate.
He, however, clarified that his remarks reflected his personal view and not necessarily the official position of the House prosecution panel.
The Senate had already convened as an impeachment court and is scheduled to hold its pre-trial conference on June 18, with the impeachment trial of Duterte set to begin on July 6.
According to Alonto Adiong, the impeachment proceedings should remain the Senate’s constitutional priority.
“Remember the impeachment trial is the constitutionally mandated priority of the Senate right now. They have already convened as an impeachment court,” he said.
The House spokesperson argued that no other institution in government possesses the constitutional authority granted to the Senate to hear and decide impeachment cases.
“So this is the priority of the Senate, and the people knows that this is the priority of the Senate and deserves to know the truth and for a speedy trial also,” he said.
Alonto Adiong said he believes efforts to pursue parallel issues risk diverting public attention from the impeachment proceedings.
“So again, going back to that issue, it only reinforces our earlier observation that this is just a distraction, a diversionary tactic, and a PR stunt,” he said.
Impeachment prosecutor and San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, meanwhile, said the House prosecution team continues to recognize acting Senate President Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian and has been filing pleadings before the impeachment court under his leadership.
“While we recognize that it is within their right to hold such meetings outside the Senate, they may do so, of course, but then again, we follow the leadership of Senator Gatchalian,” Zamora said.
Lead prosecutor and House Committee on Justice Chairperson Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas likewise noted that senators remain free to express their views, but said any legitimate inquiry in aid of legislation must be sanctioned by the Senate leadership.
“Perhaps you can charge that to freedom of expression,” Luistro said.
“But in as far as legitimate inquiry in aid of legislation is concerned, let us remember that we have the new leadership in the Senate,” Luistro said.
“Everything that they should do in order that it will fall within the purview of a Senate inquiry in aid of legislation, it must be sanctioned by the leadership,” Luistro added.
