Chua hopes for ‘flexibility’ to discuss VP Sara impeach trial

Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua expressed hope that the Senate impeachment court would provide them with some “flexibility” when it came to explaining the events that happened as part of the ongoing impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

He explained that his call was not simply because they wanted to have an opportunity to speak, it was more so a way for them to clarify the false information that was being spread on public platforms.

“Why do I say we need some flexibility? Because our enemy here is fake news, the peddling of fake news,” Chua said in a radio interview on Sunday.

The lawmaker further noted that the reason why the public needed to be properly informed was that the proceedings were concerned with the second-highest official in the country.

Given the circumstances, Chua stressed that public interest was high in the trial, with people regularly tuning in through online platforms to stay updated with the constitutional process.

With the importance of factual information, the representative said that media outlets were important avenues where both the prosecution and the defense lawyers of the Vice President could offer their insights on what took place in every day of the trial.

“That’s why I am pleased with legitimate news outlets because they have a big role, they serve as an avenue to explain publicly what happened during the impeachment,” he said.

As a means for the public to get all of the news that was necessary, Chua also urged the Senate to allocate a space for reporters within the courtroom.

“Hopefully some media personnel could be provided a space inside the Senate impeachment hearing. There, the public can really see what everybody really does,” he expressed.

On 12 August, Escudero said that he would be making a ruling on supposed issues concerning the public statements of the parties involved in the proceedings in a subsequent hearing.

The senator noted that there was “one side” that was repeatedly “crossing the line” when it came to their remarks, referencing the sub judice rule that was applied in standard court proceedings.

Sub judice is a legal principle that prohibits all individuals participating in the trial from making comments and disclosures concerning the merits of the ongoing trial.

With the ruling expected to be issued when the trial resumes on Monday, 24 August, Chua mentioned that they would fully respect how Escudero would handle the matter.

If the verdict was to instill more restrictive measures, however, the prosecutor noted that the public would be restricted in the amount of details they could receive since the parties involved in the trial possessed the most information.

“If we are prevented from speaking, how can we share what really happened when it is the prosecution and defense panels that are actually there, we know what really happened and why evidence was presented,” he said.

In the resumption of the proceedings, the prosecutors will proceed with the direct examination of former Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta.

Acosta was called to testify concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds under her office from a period of 2022 to 2023.