Palm fronds burned as groups launch 1M signature drive to start Sara Duterte trial

Various religious groups and sectoral representatives launched the People's Impeachment Movement (PIM) on Tuesday morning to show the Senate that there is clamor for the upper chamber to convene into an impeachment court and immediately start the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The group burned palm fronds symbolizing the Duterte family's alleged seven sins, including greed for power and wealth, sloth, and anger.

At the same time, the group has vowed to collect at least one million signatures until Pentecost Sunday on June 8 to show the public's call for the Vice President's immediate trial.

Catholic priest Fr. Flavie Villanueva, one of the priests supporting victims and kin of the Duterte administration's drug war, said the group believes that the impeachment trial should begin right away so that the Vice President would be made accountable for her alleged violations.

"Napapanahon po ang pagsusunog ng palaspas kanina dahil ito po ay kumakatawan sa pitong kasalanan ng mga Duterte sa Sambayanang Pilipino: kayabangan, kasakiman, pagnanasa sa kapangyarihan, katakawan sa kapangyarihan, at yaman, galit at katamaran. Sinunog po natin ang mga palaspas kasama ng mga kasalanan ng mga Duterte gamit ang kandila ng pag-asa at katarungan," Villanueva said.

(The burning of palm fronds is timely since these represent the Dutertes' sins to our countrymen, including arrogance, greed, lust for power, gluttony for power and wealth, anger, and laziness. We burned the fronds and the Dutertes' sins using the candle of hope and justice.)

"Ito po ay simbolo ng malakas na deklarasyon ng pagtutol sa pagbabalik ng mga Duterte sa kapangyarihan, kasabay sa panawagan para sa katarungan sa lahat ng mga biniktima ni Rodrigo Duterte ng extrajudicial killings. Hindi man po ako abogado, pero ayon sa mga eksperto, malinaw po ang sinasabi ng Saligang Batas na forthwith," Villanueva said.

(This represents our strong declaration against their return to power and call for justice for drug war victims. I may not be a lawyer, but the experts have spoken that the Constitution is clear: the impeachment trial should forthwith commence.)

The House of Representatives has impeached the Vice President on February 5 accusing her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption and other high crimes based on the seven Articles of Impeachment.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero has said the Senate can only convene as an impeachment court when Congress is in session, meaning the trial would begin when the 20th Congress opens in July.

Escudero recently released the initial timetable for the procedures of the trial, setting the tentative start of the trial on July 30.

He has maintained that the Senate will not ask President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to call for a special session of Congress that would pave the way for the convening an impeachment court, saying only the Supreme Court can compel the Senate to convene while Congress is in recess.

Villanueva, however, said the impeachment trial timeline should not be based on Escudero's supposed whim.

"Ibig sabihin, agad-agad. Agaran. Now na. Hindi sa Hunyo, hindi bukas, at hindi kung kailan lang naisipan ng Senado o ng Senate President na si Chiz Escudero," Villanueva said.

(This means, immediately. Right away. Now. Not in July, not tomorrow, and not when the Senate or the Senate President Chiz Escudero decides to do so.)

GMA News Online has requested comment from Escudero about the matter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Responding to a query on a different matter, however, Escudero on Tuesday said the Senate has not delayed, nor will it unduly rush, the convening of an impeachment court. Escudero was asked about the comments of House Assistant Majority Leader and TINGOG Party list Rep. Jude Acidre that Duterte benefits from the supposed delay in the impeachment trial.

In a Viber message, part of Escudero's response was, "As I have said, we will follow the law and the rules regardless of who it happens to benefit. We will not delay (and are not delaying) anything and neither will we unduly rush doing anything that is contrary to law simply because some sectors are asking for it."

1 million signatures

In a press conference, PIM member Fr. Joel Saballa said the nationwide signature campaign will also be conducted at the grassroots level.

"Isang milyon ang target namin. Mayroon pong online form, may physical form na iikot po sa buong Pilipinas. Sa mga rehiyon po, bababa po kami kasama ang mga tahimik na mga Pilipino na naghihintay lang ng ganitong pagkilos. Sama-sama pong bababa para maabot namin ang kailangan [na pirma] hanggang dumating ang Pentecost Sunday," Saballa said.

(We are targeting one million signatures. There is an online form, aside from physical forms which we will route across the Philippines. In the regions, we will go together with the quiet Filipinos who are waiting for this movement. Together, we will go down to the communities to reach our goal until Pentecost Sunday.)

Randy delos Santos, the uncle of the 17-year-old alleged drug war victim Kian delos Santos, said the Vice President is no different from her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga. Base sa kanyang kilos, si Sara at kanyang ama ay iisa. Ayaw ng pananagutan, abusado sa kapangyarihan,” delos Santos said.

(The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. The Vice President is just like her father. They don't want to be held accountable and they abuse their power.)

In response, former labor and employment secretary Silvestre Bello III dismissed the group's claims as unproven.

"These are all allegations," Bello, the legal counsel for former President Duterte, told GMA News Online.

"Anong malay ni Father Villanueva sa batas, lalong lalo na sa ating Saligang Batas," Bello added.

(And what does Fr. Villanueva know about the law, especially the Constitution?)

GMA News Online has also reached out to the camp of the Vice President for comment and will publish them as soon as it is made available.

Duterte said last December that she welcomes the impeachment complaints filed against her.

She later filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging the validity and constitutionality of the fourth impeachment complaint that was endorsed by the House of Representatives.

The SC has directed the House and the Senate to submit comments on Duterte's petition.

The high tribunal is assessing whether or not Duterte's petition should be consolidated with another case filed by Mindanao lawyers and others, who are seeking a cease-and-desist order to stop the Senate from proceeding with the impeachment trial. — with a report from Tina Panganiban Perez and Hana Bordey/ VDV, GMA Integrated News