MANILA — A member of the House prosecution panel rejected Monday the proposed timeline of Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, which targets to convene the impeachment court on June 11th and reach a verdict by June 30th.

1-RIDER Party List Representative Rodge Gutierrez said the allotted time for the presentation of evidence based on Tolentino’s proposed schedule is “not enough”. 

He also believes the proposal to “narrow down” the seven articles of impeachment to just two would be a “betrayal” of the complaint filed by the lower chamber.

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“Personally, I don't think it would be possible on our part to just consolidate it into two articles. That would be betrayal of the full articles of impeachment that we have filed,” Gutierrez said.

“Kung tama po ‘yung nakita kong timeline, parang dalawang araw lang ‘yung nabibigay for the presentation of evidence. And if you we were to divide it into seven articles, that will really not be enough time… We're not ready yet to say how much time we need, but definitely two days will not be enough,” he added.

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Gutierrez reiterated the position that Duterte’s impeachment trial can cross over to the 20th Congress. He believes the vigil outside the Senate shows public clamor for the upper chamber to begin the trial.

“It just speaks of the clamor po siguro of the public, not for whether you are pro or against any acquittal or conviction, but this is just to hear the trial lang naman po,” Gutierrez said.

He gave assurances the House prosecution team will be ready to perform its duty.

“In either case, we will be prepared. We have been preparing for the past few months, despite the elections, tuloy pa rin ang preparations,” Gutierrez said.

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FAIR DAY IN COURT

Two congressmen, who signed the impeachment complaint against Duterte, are also against the proposed “fast-tracked” timeline for the trial.

“Malinaw naman ‘yung panawagan natin dati pa. Kailangan ng impeachment case natin ng fair day in court. At hindi siya makakaroon ng fair day in court kung mamadaliin naman ngayon," Akbayan Party List Representative Percival Cendaña said.

"Dapat maalala nila na ang mandato ng Senado ay litisin, hindi palusutin. Alam natin pag minadali, kulang ‘yung oras sa dami ng mga ebidensya na ipi-presenta. So again, sana ma-realize nila na it's always the Constitution over personal ambition. ‘Yun ang mahalaga. Hindi ito parang si Carlos Yulo na sa kaka-gymnastics nila, mental gymnastics, kakatumbling at kaka-split, e mapapalusot nila ‘yung kanilang poon."

Cendaña said the shortened timeline clearly shows the proponent's belief that the 20th Congress has no jurisdiction over the impeachment. 

"Alam naman natin… ‘yung kanyang loyalties. Tapos bigla ngayon, gusto naman nila, o gusto naman nya, madaliin. So talagang suspect ‘yung intent doon sa pag-propose nitong bagong timeline."

“Sa akin sa dulo, basta ma-exhaust lahat nung mga articles of impeachment natin, maipaliwanag at maipakita ‘yung mga ebidensya. ‘Yun ‘yung ideal timeline,” Cendaña noted.

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House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Party List Representative Arlene Brosas, for her part, said the timeline should not be dictated by anyone, but by the sufficiency of the discussions on the articles of impeachment.

“’Yung substantial dapat na discussion. We will see kung ano ‘yung magiging procedures ng Senate. Pero sabi ko nga, ang importante ay ma-discuss nang mabuti doon sa impeachment court ‘yung lahat ng articles of impeachment. And we think kung hanggang June 30 siya, bibigyan mo lang ng isang araw, isang araw, hindi siya enough, hindi siya sapat. Dapat ma-satisfy natin ‘yung tanong ng mga taumbayan kaugnay dito sa impeachment,” Brosas said.

“’Yung impeachment trial nga, ang sinabi natin, hindi siya bound by the legislative calendar. We are still standing on that, na hindi siya dapat magpatali doon sa usapin na hanggang June 30 lang,” she asserted.

RESPECT SENATE DECISION

House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, meanwhile, is ready to accept the Senate’s decision on the timeline for the impeachment trial, but he hopes it will be sufficient for the people to understand the issues raised in the complaint.

“I personally respect that. Sabi nga nila, justice delayed is justice denied. So kung kailan nila tatapusin, better… The House prosecution is ready naman to present their evidences and their witnesses... I hope that the day… to be declared by the Senate as impeachment for the impeachment proceeding will be enough for the people to really understand what's at stake here,” Adiong said.

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“I'm sure there will be a time for the House prosecution to argue also should they decide that the days that were considered to be the timeline for the impeachment trial is not enough. I'm sure there will be counter-arguments and arguments that we can see once the Senate convenes into impeachment,” he added.

House Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Representative David “Jay-Jay” Suarez, meanwhile, will issue a comment on the impeachment calendar once a proposal has been approved by the Senate plenary.

“I can't speak on behalf of the prosecutors but we signed the Articles of Impeachment and we identified seven articles. So again, until such time na may concrete recommendation or action yung Senate once they convene as an impeachment court, sa kanalang po makakapag-respond yung House,” Suarez said.

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