CourtesyL House of Representatives
KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Renee Co on Saturday warned that the change in Senate leadership could shape the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in three key areas: possible delays in the process, the conduct of the trial itself, and the final vote on whether to convict or acquit.
Speaking at the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, Co said the Filipino people, especially the youth, must closely monitor the Senate after the House transmits the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte. The case now moves to the upper chamber after the House voted 257-25-9 to impeach the vice president for the second time in two years.
For Co, the House Committee on Justice had already done its part, leaving little room for procedural attacks.
“I’d like to sum it up with two words, conservative yet fair,” Co said, describing the eight hearings conducted by the House Committee on Justice after several citizens’ impeachment complaints were received.
She stressed that the assessment came not from the House leadership, but from the Makabayan bloc, which belongs to the minority.
“Galing na po ito sa taga-minorya, na taga-Makabayan bloc, and hindi po sa leadership ng House Committee on Justice,” she stressed.
Co said the committee handled the proceedings carefully, even when members differed on key issues. She cited the sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue documents and the Makabayan-sponsored complaint as examples where the committee opted for caution.
“Pero hindi naman natin iyun tini-take against dun sa process, alam natin na yung stance ng committee on the record ay fair, conservative para po hindi mahahanapan ng butas,” she said.
The Articles of Impeachment now before the Senate include allegations involving the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth and suspicious financial transactions, alleged bribery involving DepEd officials, and alleged grave threats and inciting to sedition.
Co said public attention should now shift to the Senate’s next moves, noting concerns over whether the chamber would act swiftly following the leadership change.
She also warned against a repeat of the 19th Congress, when the previous impeachment case against Duterte did not proceed to trial. The youth legislator identified three critical areas that the public should watch closely.
“Ano ba yung tatlo na inasahan natin? One, delay in the process. Yung reinterpretation [ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano] ng word na ‘forthwith.’ Two, ‘yung conduct of the trial itself,” Co said.
She cited the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada, where the Senate debated whether to open an envelope containing evidence, as an example of how trial proceedings can shape public trust in the process.
“Will we see the same for this trial? Sana naman hindi, kaya ‘yan ‘yung mga iniisip ng mga mamamayang Pilipino,” she said.
Co said the third concern is the final vote, since conviction requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate.
“And even number three, yung resulta botahan.. two-thirds yung kailangan. Ilan yan? Kung meron lang sapat na numero, baka in the end, ma-acquit si VP Sara,” she said.
For Co, the demand is straightforward: now that the impeachment process has begun, the Senate must see it through until the end.
“Ang sa atin naman nagsimula na ang process. So galangin hanggang dulo at mangyari yung bawat step of the process in a way na hindi binabali at binabalikad yung batas at yung regulasyon,” Co said.
