Lessons from the impeachment trials of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Chief Justice Renato Corona will be utilized by the House prosecution panel in preparation for Vice President (VP) Sara Duterte’s trial, a lawmaker stressed.
This was underscored by San Juan City Lone District Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, a member of the 11-man House prosecution panel, during a forum organized by the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, tackling the impeachment case of VP Duterte.
The report by RH 12 Milky Rigonan stated that Zamora highlighted how the previous Senate proceedings would offer valuable insights into public support, legal strategy, and evidentiary standards when it comes to VP Duterte’s ongoing case. The lawmaker also pointed out that Estrada’s impeachment proved that public influence would play an important role in the process.
“Learning from the Erap impeachment, public support is very important as this is a political exercise. The influence of the public is very important; we should muster the public’s support in this case,” Zamora said.
“There is Section 11, if I am not mistaken, that an adjournment of the Senate sitting as a trial court shall not operate as an adjournment of the Senate as a legislative body,” she added.
Zamora also highlighted the importance of presenting compelling evidence for each Article of Impeachment to ensure the vice president’s conviction and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
“Going back to the requisite standard that we need to convict…it should be something that will convince a senator or even a layperson to remove the official,” the lawmaker said.
“And it should be convincing enough that it carries the consequence that he or she will be further disqualified from (holding) future office,” she continued.
Impeachment is not just a legal battle but a test of democratic accountability, the lawmaker highlighted, adding that public engagement and a well-informed citizenry would be beneficial to upholding justice.
