House pushes back against impeach gag

Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua has urged the Senate impeachment court to give prosecutors some flexibility in discussing the ongoing trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying public information was needed to counter fake news.

“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 Sunday.

Chua said the trial involved the country’s second-highest official and had drawn significant public interest, with Filipinos following the proceedings online.

He said legitimate news outlets play an important role in explaining the proceedings to the public.

“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.

He also urged the Senate to provide media personnel space inside the impeachment courtroom so the public could directly follow the proceedings.

“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 said.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on 12 August that he would rule on concerns over public statements by parties in the trial, noting that “one side” had repeatedly crossed the line.

Sub judice

The issue involves the sub judice rule, which restricts comments on matters before a court.

Chua said prosecutors would respect Escudero’s ruling but warned that stricter restrictions could limit the public’s access to information from the prosecution and defense panels.

“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.

Chua also defended prosecutors who have been absent from some hearings, saying their impeachment duties did not exempt them from their regular congressional work.

“Just because we are here for the impeachment doesn’t mean we are neglecting our other work,” he said.

Some prosecutors attend budget hearings, committee meetings and plenary duties, while others prepare for their assigned portions of the trial, he said.

“What you see in the proceedings, 80 percent of the success of the trial is because of preparation. Just because they are not there does not mean that they are doing nothing — they are preparing,” Chua said.

The trial resumes Monday, with prosecutors set to continue the direct examination of former Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, who is testifying on the alleged misuse of confidential funds from 2022 to 2023.