MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ng impeachment prosecutor ng Kamara na si Rep. Ysabel “Bel” Zamora ng San Juan City nitong Biyernes, Mayo 15, na ang pinakahuling pagpapalit ng liderato sa Senado ay direktang may kaugnayan sa impeachment ni Vice President Sara Duterte, at sinabing walang duda na konektado ang mga ito.
Sa panayam, sinabi ni Zamora na ang political shift sa Senado ay may epekto sa impeachment at iginiit na ang timing pa lamang ay imposible nang hindi maisip na magkaugnay.
“We cannot say that this is isolated from the impeachment. It was clear that the coup last Monday was done for the impeachment or to have an effect on the impeachment,” sinabi ni Zamora.
“In fact, they did it while we were deliberating on the resolution with the impeachment articles. All of us believe that the coup was related to the impeachment,” dagdag pa niya.
Noong Mayo 11 ay inimpeach ng Kamara si Duterte sa botong 257-25 na lampas pa sa 1/3 threshold na 106 na boto para maipadala ang articles of impeachment sa Senado para sa paglilitis.
Kasabay ng pagbibilang ng boto ng Kamara ay saka naman isinagawa ang pagpapalit ng liderato sa Senado matapos ideklarang bakante ang lahat ng pwesto at ibinoto si Senador Alan Peter Cayetano bilang Senate Presidente ng 13 sa 24 na miyembro.
Batid ng publiko na karamihan sa mga miyembro ng bagong minorya ng Senado ay kilala bilang kaalyado ng mga Duterte, na maaari umanong makaapekto sa impeachment trial.
Para mapanagot ang Bise Presidente, nakasaad sa Konstitusyon na kailangan ang 2/3 ng boto ng lahat ng miyembro ng Senado.
“We do not want to concern ourselves with what is happening in the Senate. Although, admittedly, we know that these controversies are happening to delay or affect the impeachment,” ani Zamora.
Sa kabila nito, nananatiling nakatutok ang 11-member prosecution panel para sa impeachment trial at kinokompleto ang lahat ng documentary at testimonial requirements nito.
“You know, keven if the turmoil in the Senate had not happened, or after all that chaos in the past few days, the prosecutors will prepare the same way with all the diligence that we need to prepare for a very good trial. We’re trying to not listen to the noise.”
“Just like in any other case, when you practice litigation, long before the trial begins, all the documents must already be complete, along with the complete list of testimonial evidence or witnesses who will take the stand. Our specific roles must also already be assigned — who will conduct the direct examination and who will handle the cross-examination,” dagdag pa.
Hinimok ni Zamora ang civil society groups na tumulong sa panawagan para magpatuloy ang pagdinig.
““The public needs to see and understand what is happening in the impeachment proceedings because, understandably, there may be many legal terms that are difficult to understand,” anang mambabatas.
“So I hope that the civil society groups will be able to bring what is happening in the Senate to the public and for them to be able to explain what’s happening to the public,” dagdag pa.
Nakatakdang mag-convene bilang impeachment court ang Senado sa Mayo 18, alas-3 ng hapon batay sa anunsyo ni Cayetano sa liham kay Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III. RNT/JGC
