The upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will serve as a critical crucible for the country’s democratic institutions and constitutional safeguards amid an increasingly polarized political landscape, a lawmaker said over the weekend.
During a media forum in Quezon City, Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong—who also serves as a spokesperson for the House prosecution panel—framed the high-profile trial as a vital mechanism for accountability.
“This is actually a litmus test for us na masasabi natin na this democracy still works,” Adiong declared. “And this is the perfect and democratic venue for both sides to air their complaint.”
This is actually a litmus test for us where we can say that this democracy still works. And this is the perfect and democratic venue for both sides to air their complaint.
Adiong emphasized that the proceedings will demonstrate whether the bedrock principles of the Philippine Constitution can remain resilient when subjected to intense political friction and outside influence.
“Ang pinag-uusapan natin dito ang gaano katatag ang ating Constitution, gaano nagwi-withstand ang Constitution despite the political pressure, gaano nagwi-withstand ang Constitution despite the scare tactics that have been employed by different sectors in our society,” he stressed.
What we are talking about here is how strong our Constitution is, how well the Constitution withstands despite the political pressure, how well the Constitution withstands despite the scare tactics that have been employed by different sectors in our society.
The lawmaker underscored the necessity of a thorough process, asserting that both the prosecution and the defense must be granted sufficient time to lay out their evidence and present witnesses before the senator-judges cast their final votes.
“But ang gusto lang natin ma-establish is that it will be given enough time for all the Articles to be aired, to be explained to the public,” Adiong said. “Ultimately, the people want to hear evidence, want to see kung ano ‘yung nilalaman nitong mga allegations na ito.”
But what we just want to establish is that it will be given enough time for all the Articles to be aired, to be explained to the public. Ultimately, the people want to hear evidence, want to see what the contents of these allegations are.
According to Adiong, public interest in the trial crosses political divides, noting that even the Vice President’s staunchest allies are eager to scrutinize the formal evidence.
“So it only means to say na ang buong bayan ay invested talaga dito,” Adiong added.
(Translation: So it only means to say that the entire nation is truly invested in this.)
The political crisis escalated rapidly after the House of Representatives voted to impeach Duterte on May 11, prompting the Senate to formally convene as an impeachment court just one week later.