By Reni M. Valenzuela
While it is true that a few ambitious souls are among those behind the move to impeach Vice President (VP) Sara Duterte, and that the action is politically motivated/tainted, the same (more obviously, blatantly and shamelessly) can be said of the “throng” who preclude and shield the VP from impeachment.
Thus, it behooves the Filipino people and our justice officials to have the proper perspective of the “controversies” that continue to hound and surround the hallowed constitutional act that is impeachment which (alas!) is fast metamorphosing into a complete tragicomedy, with “infiltrating” insiders or buffoons, drolls and farceurs as main actors.
Sino ngayon ang naiipit sa tunggalian ng mga naka sagradong balabal sa kakaibang animated version ng “Merchant of Venice” ni William Shakespeare? Sagot: Ang taong bayan.
May we imbibe into our consciousness and sensibilities the welfare and well-being of our nation; the imperativeness and awareness of all that need to be done (and done forthwith) toward achieving justice, uprightness and wise/clean/good governance for a better tomorrow and a greater Philippines.
As a people and country, particularly at this juncture, may we be stirred to wake up to the realization that the “impeachment” brouhaha (with all its noise, buzz and bustle) is a battle between crookedness and righteousness; between accountability and derailing tactics -- everything transcendent of politics, camaraderie, fraternity/dynastic ties and personalities.
How can justice be corrupted?
Sino man ang nakasalang sa paglilitis, si Sara o President BBM man o ang Ombudsman, our stand and treatment of the impeachment should be the same -- colorless, impartial, apolitical, statesmanlike, unselfish, unbiased, dispassionate, decisive, courageous, patriortic. Nagkataon lamang na si VP Sara ang ngayon ay nakasalang.
An impeachment proceeding/trial is said to be a political exercise. Correct, but one that is decided upon and judged by facts, fairness, truth and truthfulness -- not by politicians.
An impeachment act is only political in the sense that politicians are the ones who would compose the impeachment court (nothing more, nothing less, nothing else) to render judgment -- right, conscientious, equitable, fair and godly judgment.
Hence, no senator who is wildly biased for or against the VP must stand as a judge in the impeachment court. But will they inhibit themselves? No. Take them out, dear Juan dela Cruz and true leaders of the land. Disrobe them all.
As cited in the Constitution, a certain high ranking public official who commits an impeachable offense, must be subjected to an impeachment proceeding, and whose case should be adjudicated forthwith accordingly -- based on merits and evidence, not on partisanship, friendship and ambition (or religion).
But where is politics there, dear Heaven? Answer: None, except in the unreasoned, absurd and brazen (unfit) senator judges of the highly politicized, brutalized “impeachment court.”