Bantay Impeachment (BI) has urged all parties to avoid excessive objections and delaying tactics following the first week of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a statement, the group said the proceedings are different from ordinary court trials and should be conducted in a way that is easier for the public to understand.
BI called for questions to be brief and clear, and encouraged the use of Filipino or other local languages whenever possible so more people can follow the proceedings.
The group also said the focus should remain on the issues raised in the Articles of Impeachment rather than on legal technicalities.
Bantay Impeachment stressed that unnecessary objections and delaying tactics should stop to allow the evidence against the Vice President to be presented more efficiently and discussed more clearly before the public.
It also urged the Senate, the defense panel, and the prosecution to make the impeachment trial more accessible to ordinary Filipinos.
” Panawagan natin sa Depensa, Prosekusyon, at mga Senador na tandaan na ang impeachment trial ay kaiba sa ordinaryong paglilitis sa korte. Sana ay maikli at malinaw ang mga tanong. Sana ay wikang sariling atin ang gamitin para mas marami ang makasunod sa pinag-uusapan. Sa halip na teknikalidad ay kaugnayan sa mga isyu sa articles of impeachment ang gawing pokus ng pagtatanong. Tigilan na ang sobra-sobrang objections at delaying tactics para mabilis at malinaw na mailahad sa publiko ang mga ebidensya hinggil sa mga akusasyon sa bise presidente. (We call on the Defense, the Prosecution, and the Senators to remember that an impeachment trial is different from an ordinary court proceeding. We hope that the questions will be brief and clear. We also hope that our national language will be used so that more people can follow the proceedings. Instead of focusing on technicalities, the questions should center on issues relevant to the Articles of Impeachment. We also urge everyone to stop excessive objections and delaying tactics so that the evidence regarding the allegations against the Vice President can be presented to the public more quickly and clearly)“.
According to the group, the impeachment trial is not only for lawyers but for every citizen who has the right to know whether an official entrusted with public office should remain in position.
(PHOTO COURTESY: Senate of the Philippines)
