SENATORS serving as judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte would eventually have to weigh the documentary evidence presented before the Senate and explain their decisions before the public, Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chair Joel Chua said over the weekend.
Chua, a lawyer and member of the House Committee on Justice, said the impeachment proceedings should ultimately be decided based on the evidence presented and the constitutional process, rather than political considerations or personal loyalties.
“Yes. Merit lang tayo. Kasi kung wala naman talaga, bakit mo naman sasabihin? Ang hirap na i-justify nun,” Chua said in an interview on One News’ “Politika All The Way” on Saturday.
He explained that while the vice president would be given the opportunity to challenge the evidence during a Senate trial, documentary records would also be carefully examined by senator-judges.
“But of course kasi sa Senado, they will be given the opportunity to cross-examine ‘yung mga evidence. Pero itong documentary evidence, ewan ko kung paano nila pasisinungalingan ito,” he said.
The Manila lawmaker cited alleged discrepancies in Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), particularly the declaration of zero cash on hand and cash in bank despite bank transactions flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) during the clarificatory hearings.
“Just like sa ill-gotten wealth. In SALN tandaan mo, zero ang declaration ng cash. Ibig sabihin pag dito sa hearing may lumabas, P100 million na lang, ang layo pa rin ng zero sa P100 million,” Chua said.
“Sabihin na nga natin huwag na P6.7 billion. P100 million na lang. E dini-declare mo zero,” he added.
Chua also recalled the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, saying documentary evidence became central to the deliberations during the proceedings.
“Pero nung naglabasan na ‘yung mga ebidensya, ang hirap i-justify eh. Paano mo sasabihin na wala kung sumisigaw na sa harapan mo ‘yung ebidensya?” he said.
He noted that senators, as public officials, would naturally be expected to explain their positions to the public, particularly in future elections.
“Paano mo rin, pag-akyat mo sa entablado come 2028, ano sasabihin mo sa mga constituents mo? Sabihin ng constituents mo ‘Cong ba’t ganoon naging voto mo?’ Tapos hindi mo maipaliwanag kung bakit. Hindi mo ma-justify. Sasabihin mong politika,” Chua said.
“Ayan sa harapan eh, numero hindi magsisinungaling. Numero at ebidensya ang linaw eh,” he added.
Chua also pointed out that Duterte’s camp had sought relief from the Supreme Court (SC) even before the House Committee on Justice formally began its hearings on the impeachment complaints.
“At kung papansinin mo, hindi pa nga nagsisimulang committee hearing namin, ‘yung simulang simula, puro TRO na ina-apply nila sa Supreme Court,” he said.
“So ibig sabihin meron silang ayaw makita ng taong bayan,” Chua added.
According to Chua, the release of AMLC records during the hearings later became part of the public discussions surrounding the impeachment proceedings.
“Kaya eto, lumabas ‘yung mga ebidensya, now we know kung ano pala ‘yun—kung ano ‘yung mga gusto nilang i-prevent na mailathala sa taong bayan,” Chua said.
