Don’t let her get away now

As we know, what is at stake in the ongoing impeachment trial is simply the privilege of Vice President Sara Duterte to continue serving the people, versus the right of the Filipino people to have a public servant they deserve. It’s that simple.

We should have scrutinized our public servants during the election. But these politicians are so skillful in hiding their dark side and are experts in blinding the electorate with their clever propaganda. Fortunately, when the people made a mistake, the Constitution has provided a mechanism to weed out such high-ranking officials should reasonable suspicion surface. And for VP Sara, reasonable suspicion exists; that’s why she’s impeached for the second consecutive year.

The specific question at hand now in the impeachment court is whether or not to subpoena the bank accounts and Bureau of Internal Revenue records of the VP and her husband. Going back to the impeachment law’s basic rationale of the people’s welfare versus the VP’s privilege to serve, in case of a legal dilemma, which may even favor the accused official, shouldn’t the decision be in favor of the people? But in this question at hand, when the line drawn by the bank secrecy law is clear, decisive, and unequivocal—the impeachment court is allowed to open bank accounts of public officials—what would prevent the court from deciding in favor of the people? A flimsy excuse of a “fishing expedition,” or is it personal interest and blind ambition?

Nakalusot na si VP Sara noong election, it’s a disastrous dereliction of duty if we let her get away now.

Cristino Santos,

crisan724@yahoo.com