HOUSE trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur on Wednesday said the House prosecution panel is considering regular press briefings during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to help the public understand the proceedings and prevent confusion over legal issues raised before the Senate impeachment court.
Alonto Adiong, a House Assistant Majority Leader and chairman of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, said the prosecution team is preparing for the possibility of long trial days, close public attention and constant questions from media and citizens following the case.
“Tayo naman po ay naka-ready na tayo. Alam na po natin baka kunti na lang ‘yung tulog natin ‘pag nagkataon po na mag-umpisa na po ang trial,” Alonto Adiong said in a radio interview over dzMM.
Alonto Adiong said the exact format is still being discussed, but he personally believes that regular briefings would be useful, especially because the impeachment trial is already one of the most closely watched political and constitutional events in the country.
“But as to your question po, pinag-uusapan pa po ‘yan kung magkakaroon, pero ako in my own opinion mukhang kailangan po ‘yung sinasabi nating ginawa nung nakaraang kongreso na magkaroon ng press briefing,” Alonto Adiong explained.
“Para sa ganon ay mas madali para sa ating mga kaibigan sa media na mailahad ang mga dapat mailahad na information at magtanong na rin ng ating partners in the media ‘yung mga kinakailangan tanong para po magkaroon ng mas masusing diskusyon at mas clarified na information na maipapahatid po natin sa publiko,” he added.
The Lanao del Sur House leader said formal briefings would also help reporters obtain clearer information from the prosecution side while avoiding multiple interpretations of what happened in the impeachment court.
“So isa po yan sa pinag-usapan ng prosecution team whether or not there will be a press briefing by the House trial prosecution. Pero ako, naniniwala po ako na kailangan po ‘yan,” Alonto Adiong said.
He said the Filipino people have followed the impeachment case closely, making regular updates more necessary as the Senate begins to act on the Articles of Impeachment.
“Mukhang sa panahon ngayon dahil ating taong bayan ay talagang invested so much on the impeachment process, impeachment case,” Alonto Adiong noted.
“Ito na nga, nasa Senado na nga. They are now already convened into impeachment court ay mukhang gusto ng taong bayan na regular ‘yung information nare-receive nila mula sa actual na trial,” he added.
Alonto Adiong said the Senate’s convening as an impeachment court marked an important step and strengthened expectations that the process would move forward.
“Ngayon, pasalamat tayo dahil nag-convene na nga po ang Senado. They have already worn their robes,” Alonto Adiong said.
“So ang anticipation po talaga natin ay magtuloy-tuloy na itong proseso na ito. Dahil ang naintindihan po at this point in time ng Senado na ito po ay exclusive right nila, exclusive mandate and duty na binigay sa kanila ng Constitution,” he added.
The House prosecution panel has already introduced its members and discussed the expected flow of the proceedings, including the period for the vice president’s answer and the prosecution’s reply.
“Yesterday, we had the prosecution team kahapon po, pinresenta po nila, inintroduce na po nila individually, officially ang kanilang, bawat isa sa kanila,” Alonto Adiong said.
“Nagkaroon ng press briefing din kung paano yung flow or assignments per prosecutor, ano ang magiging flow supposedly na kanilang ibibigay once na nagkaroon ng pre-trial, after the response of the defense, within 10 non-extendable days, in issue ng Senate acting as impeachment court,” he added.
Alonto Adiong said the prosecution side also expects a five-day non-extendable period for its reply, giving the public a clearer view of how the trial will proceed once the pleadings begin.
“At the same time, yung reply naman po ng House prosecution is within five non-extendable days. So at least may premise na po tayo,” Alonto Adiong concluded.
