Photo credit: Zia Alonto Adiong

House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong on Wednesday welcomed the Senate’s move to convene as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, calling it a positive step for constitutional accountability.

Adiong said the Senate’s action showed lawmakers were finally recognizing their constitutional duty after the Articles of Impeachment were transmitted by the House of Representatives.

“Well, it’s a positive development as compared to the previous impeachment complaint. Nagkaroon ng problema as the definition of forthwith,” Adiong said in an interview with the Bilyonaryo News Channel.

“Right now, I think the senators are in unison accepting the fact that forthwith means immediate. So that’s what we’ve seen today and that’s what we saw kanina lang sa Senate,” he added.

The House earlier voted overwhelmingly to impeach Duterte, paving the way for a Senate trial where senator-judges will hear evidence from both the prosecution and defense.

Adiong said the House prosecution panel views the Senate’s move as proof that the chamber is prepared to carry out its constitutional responsibility.

“So it’s a good indication that the Senate is now trying to exercise its constitutionally mandated job, which is to try and decide once an impeachment complaint, once articles of impeachment have been transmitted to them,” he said.

The House trial spokesperson also addressed the recent leadership changes inside the Senate, saying the House respects the upper chamber as a co-equal branch of government.

“Well, the leadership shake-up, we entirely respect the decision of the Senate as a co-equal branch. But of course, on the optics-wise, well, we’re talking about former Senate President Tito Sotto III being more neutral in the case,” Adiong explained.

At the same time, he acknowledged concerns over the perceived closeness of some senators to the Duterte family, including Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

“But then again, we understand that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, despite the fact that I’m trying to have a positive view on the composition of the Senate right now as a co-equal branch, despite his earlier positions on the matter, we know how close he is to the Dutertes,” Adiong stated.

Despite political concerns, Adiong said the prosecution remains confident that the impeachment process will be guided by Senate rules requiring neutrality and impartiality.

“We still believe that once we start the trial and once the evidences have been presented by the prosecutor, we anticipate that we will be given an equal footing,” he added.

Adiong stressed that the impeachment court must follow its own procedures regardless of political affiliations.

“Despite the fact that preferences or partisan affiliation among different senators, they have to get true to their adopted Senate procedures of impeachment. There’s a specific section in their rules which specifically demands political neutrality,” he said.

When asked if this meant impartial justice, Adiong replied: “Impartial justice.”

The House official admitted the impeachment proceedings would not be easy, but said the prosecution is relying on documentary evidence and records that will be presented during trial.

“Well, this is not an easy impeachment proceeding as far as the number is concerned I would admit to you. But then again, we always rely on the evidences and the sets of documents that our prosecution team will provide,” Adiong pointed out.

He added that the impeachment trial would give both the Senate and the public the opportunity to examine the evidence in the proper constitutional forum.

“As soon as we present the evidences to the people and to the Senate itself, acting as an impeachment court, I’m positive for a favorable outcome,” Adiong concluded.