Lenten break a time to rest, reflect, strategize

MANILA, Philippines—Both parties of the impeachment trial have a common plan for the Lenten break.

House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II told reporters on Thursday they would be taking a “long rest” during the break although Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said they would be around even without the impeachment proceedings.

“Our strategy during the break will be the same as your strategy. We will be taking a long rest,” said Gonzales.

On the side of the defense panel, lawyer Jose Roy III, who likened the trial to a battle “where the greatest ally is sleep”, said that the recess would be a chance for their members to “rest [and] reflect” and that once everyone was recharged, they could finally “finalize their battle plan.

In so far as being helpful to either the prosecution or the defense however, Belmonte said that what he knew for sure was that the Lenten break would cause the impeachment proceedings to lose its momentum.

“Maybe there will be continuous exposure with the media on both sides… so I cannot say it is helpful to one side or the other. Siyempre, iyong momentum nito of course is lost (But of course the momentum will be lost),” said Belmonte.

“But at any rate, as to quote the senators, it is not the people but the senators who would decide,” he said.