SCHOOLS, law schools, communities and civil society groups should organize watch parties and public discussions on the impeachment trial of Vice President Z. Sara Duterte so Filipinos can follow the proceedings critically and participate in the accountability process, members of the House prosecution panel said.
House trial spokesperson and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co said the trial should not be watched passively, especially because the proceedings will involve constitutional questions, public funds and allegations that citizens have long demanded to be answered.
“Siguro puwede pong we hash out the finer details in the coming days. Pero ang inaasahan din natin may livestream ang Senate, may livestream ang House of Representatives,” Co said.
Co said mainstream media will also provide public updates, but she urged citizens to create their own spaces for discussion instead of merely consuming reports and commentary.
“Makikita din natin, I’m sure, ang mga media nakaantabay at blow-by-blow prepared na magbigay ng updates sa mamamayan. So inaasahan natin na engaged ang taong bayan,” Co added.
For Co, watch parties and community discussions can deepen political participation by allowing people to study the articles of impeachment, understand the process and form their own critical view of the proceedings.
“And dagdag ko na lang dito sa proseso ng pagpapalawak ng political participation, in-encourage din natin ang lahat na magkaroon ng sariling livestreams. I’m sure meron ‘yan sa ating mga bahay, sa classrooms, pero magtipon din tayo sana para pag-usapan ‘yung issue,” Co explained.
“Beyond siyempre sa pagbasa ng updates at pagbasa ng interpretations, tayo mismo ay gumawa ng sarili nating kritikal na pagtanggap doon sa mga nangyayari,” Co added.
Diokno backed the proposal and called on law schools and other educational institutions to organize their own impeachment trial watch activities to help explain the process to students and the public.
“Maidagdag ko lang po, may ilang initiatives ang some school and civil society groups na bantayan ‘yung mangyayaring paglilitis. At ako’y nananawagan at nagsusuggest din lalong lalo na sa mga law schools at iba’t ibang mga paaralan na maganda siguro kung magkaroon din tayo ng mga watch parties para mapaliwanagan tayo at maintindihan natin ang proseso,” Diokno said.
Co said the trial is also a matter of generational responsibility because young Filipinos will inherit the future shaped by today’s public accountability processes.
“Ang maayos na paglilitis, ang pagtuloy-tuloy na mga hakbang ng trial at ang pag-ensure nating lahat nito ay investment sa lahat ng kabataan. Kung makikita natin ang proseso ng pananagutan ay magtutuloy-tuloy at ang mananagot ay dapat managot, ang katotohanan ay lumabas, ang benepisyo po dito ay ang magmamana ng kinabukasan,” Co said.
Co said the youth will continue to push for the widest possible participation in the proceedings so that the trial becomes not only a Senate process but a public lesson in accountability.
“Handa po ang kabataan na gawin ang lahat ng makakaya para ang mga proseso na ito ay magtuloy-tuloy, maisayos at maisama ang pinakamarami. Kaya po ang panawagan nating muli, start the trial forthwith, makuha na ‘yung sagot hindi lang ni VP Sara pero yung katotohanan dito sa mga nangyayaring issues sa bansa natin,” Co said
metrosundaily
