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Prosecutor in Sara impeachment trial says House followed process
Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua on Saturday denied allegations that the House of Representatives "railroaded" the impeachment process of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the actions it took were "constitutional."
Chua, one of 11 congressmen who will serve in the prosecution panel in Duterte's impeachment trial, said such claims by the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) were expected.
At a news forum Saturday, Chua said, "Wala namang railroading 'yan… In fact, ang tao nga two months ago pa hinihingi sa amin 'yan eh. Kasi it's just a question na kung kanino ka naka-side eh, siyempre 'pag ando-doon ka, 'yun ang sasabihin mo. Pero at the end of the day, ang tagal."
(There wasn't any railroading of the process... In fact, the people have been asking for this for two months already. It's just just a question on whose side you're on. Of course, if you're there, you'll say there was railroading. But at the end of the day, it took a long time.)
The PDP Laban is the political party led by the Vice President's father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. It issued a statement Thursday expressing "extreme disgust and condemnation over the railroaded and sham impeachment," calling it the "clearest manifestation of dirty politics in the country."
The House of Representatives on Wednesday endorsed to the Senate the verified impeachment complaint with 215 congressmen supporting it.
One-third of the House of Representatives, or 102 members, was needed to transmit the complaint to the Senate without having to go through committee hearings.
Chua said, "Ang ginawa naman namin nasa batas naman 'yan, eh, 'yung one-third vote nasa Constitution naman 'yan, eh (What we did is provided by law. The one-third vote requirement is in the Constitution)."
"So hindi naman sinabi na isa lang ang proseso na dapat gawin, hindi naman sinabi na dapat lahat sa Committee on Justice lang. Binigyan tayo ng dalawang options ng ating batas—una, committee procedures or ‘yung isa House action. 'Yung House action, 'yun ang tinahak namin," Chua said.
(It isn't provided that only one process should be followed. It doesn't say that everything should only go through the Committee on Justice. The law gives us two options—one, committee procedures, or the House Action, which we took.)
Sara's SALN
Meanwhile, Chua was also asked regarding the fourth of seven articles of impeachment against Duterte, namely her alleged unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets in ther Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), where her wealth increased by four times from 2007 from 2017.
Chua said, "Ito po 'yung dinivulge ni Senator Sonny Trillanes (This is what Senator Sonny Trillanes divulged)."
To recall, during one of the House QuadComm's hearings in November last year, Trillanes claimed that the former president and his family allegedly received P2.4 billion in bank deposits. The former senator first made the allegation in 2016 —when the elder Duterte was then a presidential candidate.
Asked if the House had made its own confirmation of Trillanes' claims, Chua said, "Actually kasi 'yung materials kabibigay pa lang sa amin so hindi pa namin talaga na [review] (Actually the materials were just provided to us so we have to thoroughly review)."
"Kumbaga akala mo siyempre, ilang beses mo rin rereviewhin lahat 'yan mga evidence (Of course, all of the evidence has to be reviewed several times)," he said.
However, Chua said the first three articles of impeachment are already strong enough. These are: conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez; malversation of P612.5 Million in confidential funds with questionable liquidation documents; and bribery and corruption in the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s tenure by handing out cash to agency officials and staff at the time.
"Sa first three articles kumbinsido ka na eh… Sa unang tatlo… mabigat na 'yung ebidensiya (One would already be convinced in the first three articles alone... the evidence is strong)," he said.
Nonetheless, Chua said, "Give us enough time para talagang totally ma-polish 'to lahat at ma-gather pa namin ang mga ebidensya, siguro pag-uusapan pa kung ano ang magiging flow ng aming diskarte."
(Give us enough time to totally polish all of these and gather evidence. We will still discuss what will be the flow of our strategy.)
Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said the impeachment court which will try Duterte has yet to be convened. The impeachment trial will only start once the Senate resumes session in June.
Amid her upcoming impeachment trial, Duterte said she will not resign from her position. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
