THE House prosecution panel made the right choice to move forward with only the unexplained wealth charge against Vice President Sara Duterte, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña said on Sunday.
Cendaña explained that the charge offers the clearest basis for Duterte’s impeachment trial, considering the substantial evidence supporting it and how easy it is to explain to the public.
“Equally, substantial ‘yung evidence, ‘yung pieces of evidence doon sa iba pang mga articles. Pero yung pinaka-glaring talaga, pinakamadaling ipaliwanag, pinaka-least technical, will be unexplained wealth,” he said in an interview on dzBB’s “Bantay Balita sa Kongreso” with Nimfa Ravelo and Isa Avendaño-Umali.
Before the impeachment trial went on a break, the House prosecution decided to drop three of the impeachment allegations against the vice president.
These included the confidential fund misuse, bribery, and grave threats.
This leaves the Senate impeachment court with only the unexplained wealth charge to rule on, which Cendaña said can be explained with the least technical legal arguments or jargon.
“Pinakamadaling ipaliwanag ‘yung hindi maipaliwanag na yaman. Actually, parang iniisip ko nga, hindi lang ba hindi maipaliwanag o ayaw ipaliwanag kasi may pinagtatakpan,” he added.
He said that the distinction matters as the impeachment proceedings move forward, especially when the trial needs a speedy resolution without losing the interest of the Filipino people.
“Kapag humaba yung proseso, nawawalan ng interes ‘yung taong bayan, nawawalan din ng lakas ng loob halimbawa, ‘yung mga witnesses to be part of the process,” he said.
Cendaña also said that the withdrawal of the other articles should not be taken to mean Duterte can no longer face accountability for the allegations they raised.
He said that other legal remedies may still be pursued outside the impeachment proceedings, like how the Ombudsman is investigating the case concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
The Senate impeachment trial is expected to resume on November 9, when Duterte’s defense is set to present its case.
metrosundaily
