Courtesy: House of Representatives
HOUSE Committee on Public Accounts chair Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list on Saturday reiterated that the 11-member House prosecution panel will attend in full force the opening of the Senate impeachment court on Monday, May 18, saying their presence signifies respect for the Senate, the Constitution, and the impeachment process now moving forward against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ridon said the House prosecutors are expected to appear before the Senate at 3 p.m. to witness the opening proceedings.
“Yung kabuuan po ng 11-person House prosecution panel ay pupunta po sa Senado, sa alas tres ng hapon, May 18, para saksihan po yung pagbubukas ng Senate impeachment court,” Ridon said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
He stressed that the prosecutors’ attendance is not merely ceremonial, but reflects the House’s recognition that the impeachment case has entered the next constitutional stage.
“Ano ho yung dahilan bakit ho kami pupunta ‘ron? Una paggalang po sa Senado, pangalawa paggalang po doon sa proseso na itinatadhana po ng Constitution po mismo,” Ridon said.
Ridon said the House vote to impeach Duterte sent a clear and unmistakable institutional message to the Senate. The House voted 257-25-9, far above the 106 votes required to impeach and transmit the Articles of Impeachment. The result also exceeded last year’s 215-vote impeachment push.
The lawmaker also pointed out that the voting outcome showed that Duterte’s political base was not enough to stop the impeachment move, even in areas considered favorable to her.
“Overwhelming po yung boto to impeach the vice president…Even within the strongest bailiwicks of the vice president and Dutertes within Mindanao, within Cebu, within Visayas, hindi po ito nag-turnout for the vice president. I think that point needs to be made,” Ridon said.
For Ridon, the opening of the Senate impeachment court is more than just the formal start of trial proceedings. He said it marks the next constitutional step in examining the evidence that had already convinced an overwhelming majority in the House.
“Limited pa ho yung papel ng Kamara dito po sa araw na ito, pero mahalaga pong masaksihan po officially ng prosecution panel yun pong magiging kaganapan sa araw po na ito. At inaasahan po namin na talagang magco-convene sa araw na ito ang Senate impeachment court, at gugulong na sa wakas ang trial ng ating pangalawang pangulo,” Ridon said.
