The Impeachment Stage

Friday, 17 February 2012 06:12

Written by Aaron Benedict De Leon

Many writers have already expressed their views and opinions regarding the ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. In my facebook page, I have even gone already as far as choosing whether he should be convicted or acquitted. The pieces of evidence, the testimonies- they are all ingredients either for a conviction or acquittal, and both the defense and prosecution are jousting to win over arguments and debates in court.

These should be the highlight of the impeachment trial, so that the Senator Judges can make a sound judgment when verdict time comes. However, it seems that issues outside the impeachment proceeding and the grounds for impeachment are taking more of the airtime than the issue at hand.

Take nothing away from all of the personalities involved, not even the Supreme Court or even the Impeachment Court can conclusively say the nature of this exercise. And so, the stage is set for antics that may have gone beyond our imagination, and the constitution’s.

Indeed, this proceeding has brought out the best and worst in people. I didn’t know that lawyers can be good PR people and instant strategists outside the courts. I didn’t know too, that they are actors better than start-up celebrities. Much more, I’m surprised that some Senator Judges can become an extension of either the defense or prosecution, with their line of questioning in aid of supposed “inquiry.”

But where did this all begin? Who started what?

This all started when the prosecution, through their spokesperson, Rep. Miro Quimbo, exposed the 45 properties under the Chief Justice’s name and/or his family. However, it came out in the impeachment court, through Sen. Estrada’s questioning, that there were only 20 plus properties in his name. Instead of owing up to the inaccurate information, Rep. Tupas said that the information did not come from the prosecution, and instead devolved the responsibility to the source agency.

The defense too tried to play with the media, following their press conference where they claimed that Malacanang, through Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa, were trying to pry the Senators to vote against the TRO issued by the Supreme Court on the release of CJ Corona’s foreign currency accounts, for a hefty 100 million purse. This was denied by most Senators, who suggested to the Defense that the identity of the source of their information be revealed in public. Of course, as common PR dictates, the defense said that they wanted to protect and preserve the safety and security of their source.

And then, of course, you have two prominent senators figuring to be the most vocal in the impeachment court, Sen. Franklin Drilon and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Sen. Drilon has always given us the reason that all of his questions and inquiries were meant to ferret out the truth from the witnesses. Well, since his time as Justice Secretary, it seems that his pursuit of Justice seems to be endless as his long tenure in government. Sir, haven’t you figured it out yet considering you’ve been there for the longest time? Sen. Santiago, meanwhile, claims that several irregularities have propped up during the trial and that she will not allow violations of the law in her presence, just because Senators who are running for re-election and/or personalities in the impeachment court running for the Senate want the free media mileage being offered by this trial. Talk about grandstanding, what are you doing? Talk about hypertension, whose bringing this to herself? I understand that you’re trying to show us you deserve to be a judge in the International Court of Justice, but this doesn’t have to come at the expense of the humiliation you are inflicting upon your colleagues, much more prosecutors who are also in the same branch of government as you are.

All these acts lead me to ask- Are they really trying to get to the bottom of the truth at the fastest rate or are they just playing it up too much just to buy themselves free airtime and exposure?

The personalities in the impeachment court, somehow, have become talk of the social networking landia, and some have already become household names because they get featured everyday in national primetime news programs.

There’s no denying that this impeachment proceeding offers mileage that no one can actually refuse. They are given the access to media, and it is their responsibility to ensure their side of the story is heard and taken into consideration, so they also cannot excuse themselves from appearing in media. But is the essence of justice still the primary consideration between and among them in this trial? Does the pursuit of truth really figure in their aspirations personally and/or politically?

Truth and Justice- these are words often abused in the course of this trial. But are these professionals only paying lip service to these words, or have they really imbibed it within the core of their profession?

Ultimately, a decision will be reached by the end of the presentation of pieces of evidence and witnesses by both the Prosecution and the Defense, and finally, a verdict will be laid down by our Senator Judges to decide the Chief Justice’s fate.

But everything else after now becomes a decision of the people.

The power now solely rests in the hands of the people, whether they find these acts as acts of grandstanding or as acts of professionals dispensing their duty to uphold the rule of law. If they find them good enough, a Senate seat is in store for them or a hefty payday is forthcoming. If they find them terrible, maybe they should consider hiding or migrating somewhere to spare them from the public backlash.

Their performance or lack of it in the ongoing impeachment trial will only be known after, so now is the time for both parties and even our Senators, to shape up, while there is still time, and most importantly, interest in the proceedings.

Their future and ours, is on the line. We have to ensure them we are all watching, vigilant and smart enough to make them accountable to their actions.

At the end of the day,

We will seal their fate…
but they will seal the future of our country…

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the Impeachment Stage, where men and women are merely players, and where the ultimate judge is the people.