Dapat personal na humarap si Vice President Sara Z. Duterte sa Senate impeachment court kung talagang naniniwala ang kanyang kampo na ang trial ang tamang forum para sagutin ang mga alegasyon laban sa kanya, ayon sa House prosecution panel nitong Miyerkules.
Ayon kay House trial spokesperson at Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, malakas na mensahe sa publiko ang personal na pagdalo ni Duterte dahil buong bansa ang susubaybay sa impeachment trial.
“It’s important because we’re talking about the impeachment trial, which the whole country will be watching. And that’s the strongest message, a clear message that the vice president can actually deliver to the people by way of, you know, answering these charges and be physically present during the trial by which she is actually being tried,” sabi ni Alonto Adiong sa isang panayam.
Aniya, ang pagharap ni Duterte sa Senado ang pinakamalinaw na paraan para ipakita na handa siyang sagutin ang mga akusasyon sa constitutional body na inatasang dinggin ang kaso.
“There’s no clearer message that would actually reinforces their claim in the previous months that they are willing now to answer these allegations in the proper forum, that they are ready than to appear before the court. But then again, we would anticipate, probably, that the vice president may or may not appear in the trial,” sabi ni Alonto Adiong.
Naging usapin ang attendance ni Duterte matapos niyang hindi siputin ang naunang House proceedings sa impeachment complaints, kahit iginiit ng kanyang defense na dapat subukin ang mga paratang sa tamang forum.
“But I guess a couple of weeks ago, we also learned, that the defense had, also, made known the possibility or assured the public that she may attend the trial,” sabi ni Alonto Adiong.
Pero para sa prosecution, malinaw ang posisyon: dapat dumalo si Duterte dahil siya mismo ang nililitis.
“But our position really is that she should attend. Because this is her trial,” diin niya.
Ayon kay Alonto Adiong, hayagang tatalakayin sa trial ang mga kasong isinampa laban kay Duterte, kabilang ang mga alegasyon na may kinalaman sa threats, confidential funds, bribery, at unexplained wealth.
“I mean, this is the trial by which the charges against her are openly discussed. And we’ve been saying this all along, that from the very start that we conducted the confirmation hearings, she keeps on skipping or not attending and not even allowing herself to air their side during the confirmation hearings,” sabi niya.
Sinabi ni Alonto Adiong na pagkakataon na sana ang naunang hearings para ilahad ni Duterte ang kanyang panig, pero hindi siya dumalo.
“It would have been a perfect venue for them, an opportunity for them, to present also their case. But then again, they waived it by not attending the confirmation hearings,” sabi niya.
Para sa prosecution, tinatanggal ng July 6 trial ang anumang dahilan para sabihing walang venue si Duterte para sumagot.
“And this time, I don’t think any reason… I don’t think there’s any more reason for the defense and the vice president herself not to attend this trial, because according to their arguments, according to their explanation, they were ready to face these charges in the proper forum,” sabi ni Alonto Adiong.
Ayon kay Alonto Adiong, kung igigiit ni Duterte na wala siyang liability sa Articles of Impeachment, malakas na mensahe sa publiko ang kanyang pagdalo sa trial.
“So, the public anticipates that she will be there, and she would also send this clear message that she’s not guilty of these allegations by, you know by joining or by attending, the trial at the Senate,” sabi niya. /Bistado