Robin Padilla stands by 'one-sided' remarks amid impeachment trial

Senator Robinhood Padilla on Monday said he stands by his previous remarks urging the House prosecution panel to not be “one-sided” in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Of course, hindi naman ako may imbento nun. Ang may imbento nun ay hustisya,” Padilla told reporters in a chance interview.

(Of course, I stand by it. I did not invent that. It was created by justice.)

“Malinaw naman iyun sa code ng mga abogado na sila ay dapat minister of justice,” he said.

(It’s clear in the code of lawyers that they should be a minister of justice.)

During last week’s impeachment trial, Padilla told Lead Prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro the prosecution should not be “one-sided” after he interjected and urged the House prosecution panel to refrain from presenting witnesses with perjury cases, citing National Bureau of Investigation agents John Mark Calilung and Jeremy Lotoc, whom he said had those issued.

Padilla later clarified the prosecution’s role “is not to win" but to instead seek the truth.

“Wala, [parte ng] demokrasya yun…Wala akong kahit anong ano.Hanggat ang tao, sila ay magkakaroon ng pagtatanong, pagkamulat, yan ay kaligayahan ng isang rebolusyonaryo,” the senator said.

Chief of staff resignation

Asked on the alleged resignation of his chief of staff Atty.Philip Jurado, Padilla answered: “Matagal nang may sakit iyan. Pwede niyo naman kunin ang records nyan. Kunin na lang ninyo, huwag niyo ko tanungin. iYan ang mga issue na hindi maganda. ‘Yan ang mga gawa-gawang issue. Dun lang tayo sa totoong issue — ang totoong issue, impeachment”.

(He’s been sick. You can ask for his records. Don’t ask me about it. And these kinds of issues are not good. They are baseless. Let’s stick with the real issue — the impeachment trial.)

“Ang tungkol sa tao, may HR, e ‘di tanungin niyo sa HR kung ano ang situation niya…’Yung high blood niya hindi na na control,” he said.

(If it’s about the personnel, ask human resources. He’s sick and he cannot control his high blood.) —RF, GMA News