House panel plans regular updates as Duterte impeachment trial heats up

MANILA, Philippines — House impeachment trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong said Wednesday the prosecution panel is considering holding regular press briefings during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Adiong said the briefings would help the public understand the proceedings and avoid confusion over legal issues raised before the Senate impeachment court.

Adiong, a House assistant majority leader and chair of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, said the prosecution team is preparing for long trial days, intense public attention and questions from the media and the public.

READ: Zia Alonto Adiong says House committees to have at least 1 more hearing

“We are already prepared. We know that we might get very little sleep once the trial begins,” Alonto Adiong said in a radio interview on dzMM.

He said the exact format of the briefings is still under discussion, but in his personal opinion, regular briefings would be helpful, especially since the impeachment trial has become one of the country’s most closely watched political and constitutional events.

“But regarding your question, it is still being discussed whether there will be press briefings. But in my own opinion, it seems necessary to do what was done in the previous Congress and hold regular press briefings,” Alonto Adiong explained.

“That way, it will be easier for our friends in the media to present the necessary information, and for our partners in the media to ask the necessary questions so that there can be deeper discussions and clearer information that we can relay to the public,” he added.

The House leader from Lanao del Sur said formal briefings would also help reporters obtain clearer information from the prosecution side while avoiding multiple interpretations of what happens in the impeachment court.

“So that is one of the matters being discussed by the prosecution team — whether or not there will be press briefings by the House trial prosecution. But I personally believe they are necessary,” Alonto Adiong said.

He added that the Filipino people have been closely following the impeachment case, making regular updates even more important as the Senate begins acting on the Articles of Impeachment.

“It seems that at this time, our people are truly very invested in the impeachment process and impeachment case,” Alonto Adiong noted.

“Now that it is already with the Senate and they have convened as an impeachment court, it seems that the public wants to regularly receive information directly from the actual trial,” he added.

READ: VP impeachment trial on as Senate convenes court

Alonto Adiong said the Senate’s convening as an impeachment court marked an important step and strengthened expectations that the process would move forward.

“Now, we are thankful because the Senate has already convened. They have already worn their robes,” Alonto Adiong said.

“So our expectation is really that this process will continue. Because at this point, the Senate understands that this is their exclusive right, exclusive mandate, and duty given to them by the Constitution,” he added.

The House prosecution panel has already introduced its members and discussed the expected flow of proceedings, including the timeline for the Vice President’s response and the prosecution’s reply.

“Yesterday, the prosecution team introduced themselves individually and officially,” Alonto Adiong said.

“There was also a press briefing about the flow of assignments per prosecutor and the supposed process once there is a pre-trial, after the defense response, within 10 non-extendable days as issued by the Senate acting as the impeachment court,” he added.

Alonto Adiong said the prosecution also expects a five-day non-extendable period for its reply, giving the public a clearer idea of how the trial will proceed once the pleadings begin.

“At the same time, the reply of the House prosecution must also be submitted within five non-extendable days. So at least now we already have a framework,” Alonto Adiong concluded.