Filipinos urged to push VP trial

A GROUP of lawmakers on Sunday urged Filipinos to campaign for the immediate start of Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial at the Senate after months of delays in proceedings.

Filipino workers, farmers, fisherfolks and students, among other sectoral groups, should join rallies and forums to urge senators to hold Ms. Duterte’s impeachment trial “without delay,” Party-list Reps. France L. Castro, Arlene D. Brosas and Raoul Danniel A. Manuel said in a joint statement.

“The time for accountability has come,” Ms. Castro said in the statement. “We cannot allow public officials to waste taxpayers’ money with impunity.”

Senate President Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero earlier deferred the scheduled presentation of charges against Ms. Duterte to June 11 from June 2, citing the need for the chamber to prioritize pending bills and act on presidential appointments.

The House of Representatives impeached the Vice-President on Feb. 5, alleging secret fund misuse, unexplained wealth, acts of destabilization and plotting the assassination of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., his family, and the Speaker of the House. Ms. Duterte has denied any wrongdoing.

In a separate statement, Manila Rep. Joel R. Chua said newly elected senators should be ready to serve as jurors in Ms. Duterte’s ouster trial to ensure timely proceedings.

“When the Senate convenes as an Impeachment Court, I recommend that the new senators be present in the chamber as observers so they can prepare for their imminent role as senator-judges,” he said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio