HOUSE trial spokesperson and impeachment adviser Robert Ace Barbers on Saturday urged the public to watch the Senate impeachment proceedings in full instead of relying on a viral video containing edited excerpts of the trial.
Barbers issued the statement in response to the Facebook Reels posted by Senator-Judge Pia Cayetano, which feature edited portions of the impeachment proceedings, including exchanges involving Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano.
“We respect every member of the Senate Impeachment Court, including Senator Judge Pia Cayetano, and we recognize that everyone is entitled to express their own views, lalo na na dito sa mainit na usapin ng impeachment,” Barbers said in a recorded video message.
“However, we also hope that discussions regarding the impeachment proceedings are presented in a manner that gives the Filipino people the complete and accurate context.”
Barbers stressed that the impeachment trial should be viewed in its entirety.
“Ang impeachment trial ay hindi dapat husgahan batay sa ilang segundo ng video o sa mga putol-putol na bahagi nito. Mas mahalaga na makita ng buong publiko kung ano ang kabuuan ng proceedings upang sila mismo makabuo ng kanilang opinion at patas at tamang pang-unawa dito sa mga videos na ito,” he said.
He said all public officials share the responsibility of protecting public confidence in democratic institutions.
“As public officials, we all share the responsibility of strengthening, not weakening public confidence in our institutions. The best way to achieve that is to encourage the public to watch the proceedings in their entirety rather than rely solely on excerpts,” Barbers said.
“Kaya nga pinapanawagan namin sa ating mga kababayan na subaybayan po itong impeachment trial na ito dahil dito po natin maiiwasan ang pagkalat ng fake news,” Barbers said.
Barbers emphasized that the impeachment proceedings transcend any individual participant.
“This proceedings is bigger than any individual. It is about preserving the integrity of the impeachment process and ensuring that the Filipino people receive a fair, complete and truthful picture of what transpired in the court,” Barbers said.
“So kailangan tayo ang magbuo ng ating opinion. Huwag lamang po natin tingnan kung ano ‘yung nakikita natin sa social media at mahalaga na sa ating pagsubaybay dito maiiwasan natin ‘yung pagkalat ng maraming, maraming fake news kagaya ng nangyayaring ito na kung saan ay nakikita natin na spliced o hindi kaya ay minanipula yung video na ipinakita,” Barbers said.
Barbers said the prosecution remains focused on presenting its evidence before the impeachment court.
“Our commitment remains to present the evidence before the court and allow the Filipino people to judge it based on the complete record, hindi ho partial. Yun ho ang ating pagsisikapan na gawin para sa ating mga kababayan,” Barbers said.
He also appealed to Senator-Judge Pia and Senator-Judge Alan Peter to clarify what transpired during the oral arguments.
“We would also like to ask Senator Judge Pia Cayetano and Senator Judge Alan Cayetano to simply tell the Filipino people, especially those that have seen this spliced video, kung ano yung katotohanan,” Barbers said.
“Dahil nandoon po naman sila nung araw na ‘yun, noong habang nagkakaroon ng oral arguments. Alam po nila at dinig na dinig nila kung ano ‘yung katotohanan na taliwas o hindi kapareha ng video na kumakalat sa ngayon.”
Barbers expressed hope that, “in the spirit of fairness,” the video would be corrected.
“So I do hope in the spirit of fairness that the senator-judge showing their impartiality, sana mabago at ma-correct po itong videong ito,” Barbers said.
metrosundaily
