MANILA -- A member of the House prosecution panel has called on the Senate to begin working on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, citing “public clamor” for it. 

House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 3rd District Representative Lorenz Defensor said House Speaker Martin Romualdez has advised the prosecution panel to prepare well for the trial, noting that the Senate may change its mind regarding the trial schedule, which is expected to begin in July. 

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Romualdez gave the advice during the second meeting of the House prosecution panel last Wednesday, according to Defensor.

“Maghanda nang mabuti because baka sakaling magbago ang isip ng Senado and masimulan natin nang mas maaga ang impeachment trial. Mas mabuti, kasi binabato na ang bahay nila. Dapat magtrabaho na tayo mga idol,” the lawmaker from Iloilo said.

“Hopeful akong mag-convene ng mas maaga dahil sa dami ng clamor. Gusto ng tao na makita at marinig ang katotohanan laban sa fake news na lumalabas, na binabaligtad ang totoong kwento nitong impeachment complaint,” he added.

Defensor emphasized the impeachment complaint must be an election issue for senators, since he said it would supposedly "help them win" if they side on the truth.

“Dapat maging election issue ito sa mga senador. Ito ang ikakapanalo nila kung papanigan nila ang katotohanan at papanigan nilang mabuksan itong impeachment trial at mabigyan ng closure ang mga Pilipino,” he noted.

He, meanwhile, warned the Senate and the public about the possible effect of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statement “Patayin natin yung mga senador ngayon para ma-bakante” on the impeachment trial.

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“Hindi biro ‘yun. Conditioning ‘yun para ma-normalize ang salitang “pagpatay” sa isip ng mga Pilipino. Kasi magiging depensa din ‘yun nila sa impeachment trial. So mag-ingat tayo, huwag na tayo magpapaloko pa sa ganyang conditioning ng mga taong bayan. If I were the Senators, I would not sit quietly taking that statement. Kung binabato na ‘yung bahay n’yo, dapat gumising na kayo at tumindig na kung ano ‘yung dapat gawin under the Constitution. And that is to proceed forthwith with the trial,” Defensor said. 

If the Vice President is confident about her defense, she should attend her trial, according to Defensor. But with or without Duterte’s physical presence, Defensor expressed confidence he can secure a conviction just based on the article he is interested to cover during the trial. Asked to rate how confident he is on a scale of 1 to 10, Defensor said “I’ll give it a 10”.

“Kung kaya niyang magbakasyon at mag-relax, ibig sabihin, wala siyang dapat ikatakot sa impeachment court na ito. At umuwi na siya at magtrabaho na tayo,” he said, referring to a photo posted by Duterte’s half-sister on social media Wednesday, showing her and the Vice President in Japan. 

The OVP has yet to confirm whether it was a recent photo. 

“I would prefer if she will testify. I would prefer. Pero, kaya kong matapos yung article ko with or without the Vice President,” Defensor added.

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The House prosecution panel has started with the division of labor on the articles of impeachment for the trial of Vice President Duterte. Defensor said it is possible for one prosecutor to handle more than one article. The panel has yet to pick a lead prosecutor, with Defensor saying it is possible to proceed without one. 

Several Philippine “legal eagles” also expressed intent to assist the prosecution in the impeachment trial, according to Defensor.

“Dinagsa kami ng mga legal eagles sa buong Pilipinas na gustong tumulong to proceed with this impeachment trial. At dinagsa kami ng mga batikang abogado na gustong ma-convict at matapos na itong impeachment trial,” he said. 

Romualdez will not be involved in the preparations for the impeachment trial, according to Defensor.

The Senate, meanwhile, has yet to send official communication to the lower chamber on the impeachment.

Bayan Muna Chairperson Neri Colmenares, one of the complainants in the 2nd impeachment complaint filed against Duterte at the lower chamber, said the Senate should forthwith proceed with the impeachment trial as commanded by the Constitution, not on June 2. 

He noted that the President has the power to call for a special session. For Colmenares, there is no need for the Senate to draft a new set of impeachment rules, “as there is a standing set of Senate Rules on impeachment in the 19th Congress”.

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