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Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV are expected to attend the House Committee on Justice’s second hearing on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte next week.
According to a “24 Oras Weekend” report by Jonathan Andal on Saturday, the next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, and will focus on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth.
Remulla said he would bring the Vice President’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) to the hearing.
“I will show up for a while. Kailangang magsagot ng mga tanong ‘yung person in charge of the documents of the Ombudsman. Wala akong kinalaman, institutional ‘yon. Just to show respect to the House,” Remulla said in a radio interview.
(The person in charge of the Ombudsman’s documents should answer the questions. I have nothing to do with it; it’s institutional. I will just show up to show respect to the House.)
Meanwhile, Trillanes confirmed in a text message to GMA News that he would serve as a witness regarding Duterte’s alleged ill-gotten wealth.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Bureau of Internal Revenue have also been summoned to the hearing.
“‘Pag na-establish sa bank accounts at sa financial documents ‘yung kaso ng unexplained wealth at SALN violations, rising to a level of betrayal of public trust, mabubuo po namin sa darating na pagdinig,” said Representative Terry Ridon, a member of the Justice Committee.
(Once the cases of unexplained wealth and SALN violations are established through bank accounts and financial documents—rising to the level of betrayal of public trust—we will be able to build the case in the upcoming hearing.)
Should Duterte’s impeachment case be approved by the House and transmitted to the Senate, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has proposed holding the impeachment trial on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays starting at 3 p.m., with Senate sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays and committee hearings in the mornings.
This is similar to a proposal earlier laid out by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Sotto, however, suggested holding the impeachment trial from Monday to Friday at 3 p.m., with legislative duties scheduled from Monday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson sharply rebuked former presidential adviser Salvador Panelo for claiming that he, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Risa Hontiveros, and Kiko Pangilinan would automatically vote to convict if the case reaches the Senate.
“Bakit marunong pa siya sa amin? Ako, walang puwedeng magsalita on my behalf. Sinabi ko na ‘yan—we’ll always be guided by the evidence. Wala pa tayo doon, bakit pinangungunahan niya at tatawagin pa niya kaming pusakal?” Lacson said,
(Why does he think he knows better than us? No one can speak on my behalf. I’ve said it before—we will always be guided by the evidence. We’re not even there yet, so why is he getting ahead of things and calling us idiots?)
“Manghuhula ba siya? E kung sabihin ko siya ang pusakal na manghuhula? Hindi lang siya pusakal—ungas siya, ungas,” Lacson added.
(Is he a fortune teller? What if I say he’s an inveterate fortune teller? He’s not just inveterate—he’s a fool.)—Jamil Santos/MCG, GMA News
