Peachie pie

The burning question: should the Senate proceed with the impeachment trial or not?

Pretty much all the editorials are saying the same thing --there is no other option for the Senate to take but that of proceeding against Vice President Sara Duterte. To do otherwise is, to put it delicately, to shirk from its constitutional duty. Others who aren’t as delicate have put out descriptors like chicken-poop and yeller-skinned. We’re classier than that, but you get the drift.

So who’s afraid of Sara Duterte? Or if not Sara, then the legions of rabid Duterte fans? You know. Those who made sure certain candidates were propelled to their seats during the last elections, and sank other hopefuls. The noisy ones. All fire and fury. The surveys might show that a majority of Filipinos agree with the arrest, extraction, and criminal trial of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte at The Hague, but that majority sure didn’t lord over the entirety of the nation at the last elections.

So now we have Senators who are afraid of that demographic. They seem to have taken the view that their chances for another shot at their seats, at keeping their power, are dependent on keeping that sector happy, and so they are dragging their feet at proceeding with trial forthwith.

Speaking of, I have never seen so much scholarly discourse on the term “forthwith”. It seems like all the intellectuals, law deans, and pundits have decided to weigh in on what ‘forthwith’ means. No one can agree - ‘forthwith’ is possibly an ASAP event, or that moment when the senators sigh and agree to do it, or it’s a time table that lapsed already.

The senators took their time in handling the impeachment case handed to them by their counterparts in the House. Forthwith just wasn’t right then: the midterm elections were going on, the candidates were busy campaigning and, oh, Sara was threatening a bloodbath. Maybe forthwith could be pushed to a later date --perhaps when they had the numbers to convict. In hindsight, this wasn’t a great decision.

On the other hand, the unsigned draft resolution from the ghostwriters in the Senate has taken the clear position that “forthwith” has come and gone --why, it’s practically a violation of Sara’s constitutional rights to a speedy trial that her trial hasn’t commenced!

As to which senator wanted to pick up the cudgels for the vice president’s constitutional rights, there were a few suspects. Later, Senator Bato de la Rosa ‘fessed up, and took credit. But shouldn’t it be the veep herself that should be invoking this right? Why are the senators, who are supposed to be the ones to try her, so solicitous of her rights? So much for impartiality.

Faculty members from the College of Law of the state university have issued a statement urging the Senate to try Sara. They raise a good point --if at all, it is the next Senate that should dismiss it, not this one. But seriously, would any Senate be that confident that they could forthwith dismiss the impeachment case (see what I did there)?

At least, dear Senate, hold a small, simple and short trial. No need for fireworks, no need for extended hearings. No need for fanfare, and no need for drama. Theatrics can be dispensed with. Present the evidence, and let us, the people, hear what the prosecutors have to say. What’s the smoking gun?

Oh right, this isn’t about extrajudicial killings. Correction: rather, show us the money. Where did the moolah flow. Which pockets did they end up in. Paper trail, if you please. We the Filipinos deserve this. Water our thirsty, gossipy hearts. Give us juicy morsels to chew over. Honor our innate Marites nature.

Let us be the one to damn her, if we have to. Do a moro-moro thing, if you have to. But do your constitutional duty. And entertain us.