The House prosecution panel has questioned how Senator Jinggoy Estrada can effectively participate as a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte if he cannot attend physically. This was stated by House Prosecutor Joel Chua and trial spokesperson Renee Co during the launch of the 'Bantay Impeachment' initiative at Claret School in Quezon City.
Importance of Physical Presence
According to Chua, it is crucial for a senator-judge to be present in person to observe the demeanor of witnesses and assess whether they are telling the truth or not. Co explained that the Senate rules remain unchanged, so Estrada's participation will still be limited due to his preventive suspension. Representative Co emphasized that the quality of judgment is different when one sees the proceedings firsthand compared to online or remote participation.
Unresolved Issues
Meanwhile, the Senate has yet to make a clear decision on who will serve as the Presiding Officer of the impeachment court. This is expected to be known at the start of the trial on July 6, where VP Duterte will face complaints regarding confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against officials.
