By Renato Reyes Jr., President, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
The Senate impeachment court has been convened and summons have been served to the Vice President, but the trial date has not yet been set. If the trial happens by June, the Senator-Judges will be under a microscope as their words and actions will be interpreted as possibly favoring one side or the other.
The Senate will face considerable pressure from a public fed up with shenanigans, cover-ups and half-truths. More than ever, the Senate has a credibility problem which it may not be able to surmount unless drastic changes happen.
Here are some of the reasons.
- Ultra-partisan: The Senate is accused of political opportunism with the sudden leadership change on the day the House voted to transmit the articles of impeachment. The move was seen as a way to protect the Vice President.
- Cover for impunity. The Senate’s sense of justice is being questioned after the majority granted protective custody to internationally wanted person Sen. Bato dela Rosa and prevented his lawful arrest.
- Not under attack. The Senate’s adherence to the truth is being questioned after CCTV footage emerged that belies the narrative that the institution was “under attack.” Most of the shots were fired from inside the Senate, and people are questioning who was it really that Gen. Aplasca was firing at.
- No investigation into the escape. Senator dela Rosa left the protective custody of the Senate, despite having a valid arrest warrant, and the Senate did not bother to investigate. The Senate President said that it was wrong to use the word “escape” because the wanted senator was always free to go.
- Unresolved corruption. The Senate is set to hold an impeachment trial where corruption and ill-gotten wealth will be prominent issues. This is while senators themselves are implicated in another corruption scheme involving infrastructure projects. The DoJ has recommended the filing of plunder and bribery cases against one Senator.
All these recent events have exposed the rottenness of the current political system with the Senate providing us with the worst examples of bureaucrat capitalism and dynastic politics. All these raise questions on how the Senate will proceed with the impeachment trial and the presentation of evidence and the rendering of a verdict. Will they vote to suppress the presentation of bank records, tax returns and money laundering reports? Will they stall the formal trial and argue that they will first wait for the SC resolution on the pending petitions against the impeachment proceedings of the House?
At this point, the Senate can exceed the public’s expectations by doing the bare minimum of conducting a fair trial based on evidence, and upholding public interest over self-interest. Or the Senate can further erode whatever is left of its credibility and engage in partisan politics aimed at delaying or derailing the trial and suppressing evidence just to protect the Vice President. Which will it be?
They say impeachment is a numbers game, a political not just a judicial process. True. So let the numbers outside the Senate speak. Let the people in their thousands weigh in on the trial and push the Senators to do their jobs. Let the political demands for justice and accountability be heard inside the halls of the Senate. And if a repeat of the 2001 trial happens, the people are well within their rights, and are more than justified, to seek accountability elsewhere.
The trial looms. Be engaged, be informed and be ready. #
