MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ni Impeachment court spokesperson Regie Tongol na nasa senator-judges na ang bola para magpaliwanag sa kanilang pagliban sa impeachment trial.
“It’s hard to draw any conclusion from the actions of the senator-judges. Of course there are matters personal to them that only they can relay to the public—the reason why they are late or absent, we leave it to them and to their respective staff to relay these matters to the public,” sinabi ni Tongol sa isang press conference.
“Kapag kulang po ang ating mga senator judges, not enough to constitute a quorum, then wala pong trial na mangyayari. So basta po ma-meet po ‘yung minimum threshold for a quorum, enough na po ‘yun para mag-conduct at magpatuloy ‘yung mga proceedings pang araw-araw sa impeachment trial,” paliwanag pa niya.
Sa pagpapatuloy kasi ng paglilitis ng impeachment court nitong Martes ng umaga, Agosto 11 ay 18 lamang sa 24 senador ang deklaradong present.
Kasalukuyang naka-detain kasi sina Senador Jinggoy Estrada at Rodante Marcoleta sa magkahiwalay na reklamong plunder habang si Senador Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa naman ay nagtatago dahil sa arrest warrant mula sa International Criminal Court (ICC).
Naka-medical leave naman si Senador Loren Legarda hanggang ngayong araw, Agosto 12.
Nang tanungin kung may batas ang impeachment court sa pag-absent ng mga senator-judge, sinabi ni Tongol na wala naman.
“Pero kung makikita ninyo naman, ‘yung ating mga senator-judges are very engaged. And I’m sure they are, as political personalities themselves because they constantly monitor the goings-on at saka ‘yung mga coverage ninyo, ng media,” aniya.
“So they are apprised and aware naman sila and they can always access ‘yung live telecast ng Senado pati ‘yung mga dokumento mula sa clerk of court and also have their staff keep them up to speed kapag sila ay nawala ng isang araw, dalawang araw or even a week, so that they will be able, at the end of the day, be able to decide on the ultimate question na kung guilty ba o hindi sa kahuli-hulihan,” dagdag pa niya. RNT/JGC
