A Roman Catholic bishop who helped draft the 1987 Constitution called on senators Sunday to remember their duty to the Filipino people, not to any individual, as the Senate prepares to convene as an impeachment court against Vice President Sara Duterte as early as Monday.
Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani delivered the appeal during a Mass at EDSA Shrine attended by members of the House prosecution panel and several civil society groups. Bacani also pressed for the trial to begin without delay, citing constitutional language he said was unambiguous.
“Kasama ako sa sumulat ng Konstitusyon na ‘yun. Forthwith. Agad-agad […] Huwag na kayo magpapasok sa Bato sa Senado at magbabaril sa Senado. Agad-agad. Huwag na kayo magpapalit ng liderato nang ganun, basta-basta,” he said.
His message to senators was equally direct. “Makonsensya naman kayo. Huwag ninyong sasabihin na ‘Tao naman ako ni Sara. Hindi ako boboto laban sa kanya.’ Hindi, hindi ka tao ni Sara kung ikaw ay senador, tao ka ng bayan,” Bacani said in his homily.
Among the legislators present were Reps. Leila de Lima, Joel Chua, and Lorenz Defensor, all members of the House prosecution panel. De Lima described the Mass as a moment to seek spiritual support ahead of the proceedings.
“Humihingi kami ng pagbabasbas para tulungan kami, to give us guidance, to give us strength, to give us wisdom to prosecute the respondent and to seek for her conviction, para managot talaga siya,” she said.
Civil society group Tindig Pilipinas held a protest outside the shrine before the Mass began. “Yung saloobin namin kailangan po natin ituloy yung impeachment trial na ilang taong nang hinihintay ng taong bayan,” said Kiko Aquino Dee of the group.
As reported by Jonathan Andal for 24 Oras Weekend, the prosecution panel may attend the Senate convening even without a formal invitation. Specific articles of impeachment have already been divided among the congressman-prosecutors.
Rep. Terry Ridon, also on the panel, said the division of labor would not restrict any member’s ability to contribute across all charges. “Ang expectation naman natin sa mga House prosecution panel, kahit hindi sila assigned sa specific grounds na ito, they will still be able to prosecute and present the evidence on other grounds na hindi sila assigned,” he said.
Chua, for his part, expressed hope that internal tensions within the Senate chamber would not undermine the constitutional process. “Ito ay kanilang constitutional mandate. Inaasahin naman din po natin na ang ating bagong Senate President, bilang isang abogado, mataas po ang kanyang paggalang sa Konstitusyon,” he said. The panel is also finalizing its list of private prosecutors and potential witnesses ahead of the trial.
