![‘WALA NAMANG BAGO' Handa na raw si Sen. Lito Lapid sa impeachment trial ni Vice Pres. Sara Duterte na magsisimula ngayong Lunes, July 6. “Dati na ako riyan, ‘di ba sa Corona [impeachment] trial? Wala namang bago,” saad ng senador. | via Maeanne Los Baños-Oroceo](https://preview.redd.it/sqhnmbm34jbh1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=19d983312c284b3d939b87034c99467ad9b9cacc)
“Itong impeachment trial part ng ating proseso sa pananagutan o accountability, at ito ay importanteng proseso para masigurado natin na ang mga institusyon ay gumagana at hindi maulit ‘yung mga ganitong hindi magandang gawain ng lingkod bayan, so napakahalagang masundan ng ating kababayan itong proseso na ito,” Gatchalian told Super Radyo dzBB.
‘BAKIT KO SISIRAIN ‘YUNG RAKET KO, ‘DI BA?’
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took a swipe at his critics, saying he is the only president who has taken concrete steps to address alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
Marcos said the pattern of questionable flood control projects dates back to before his administration, noting that former President Rodrigo Duterte had acknowledged the problems but that no one was held accountable.
“[Former] President Duterte acknowledged that there were great problems in terms of the flood control projects pero wala namang nangyari. Having acknowledged it, they did not find accountability in anybody. So, that I guess that was left up to me to do,” Marcos said.
He also rejected allegations linking him to the alleged anomalies, saying it would make no sense for him to dismantle a scheme if he were benefiting from it.
MANILA— Embattled Senator Rodante Marcoleta may still participate in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte until an arrest warrant is issued by the Sandiganbayan.
Marcoleta is facing a non-bailable plunder charge before the third division of the anti-graft court, over his non-disclosure of P75 million funds in his campaign contributions.
Several senators echoed this sentiment, amid Marcoleta's looming arrest.
"He's still a senator, kung may warrant, he has the right to appear before the trial. Hindi naman pwedeng hindi unless may nakalagay na suspension like Senator Jinggoy na suspended siya," Senator Erwin Tulfo told DZMM Teleradyo on Saturday.
"Si Senator Marcoleta hangga't walang suspension order he can still attend," he added.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian did not answer questions on how the Senate will act in case the arrest warrant is issued on Monday, also the impeachment trial's first day.
"Si Senator Marcoleta ay merong opportunity na magbigay ng kanyang defense at magpaliwanag sa korte, papakinggan ng Sandigan kung ano ang kanyang depensa at dito gagawa ng desisyon," Gatchalian said.
"We cannot preempt, court ito eh, we cannot preempt kung ano yung kanyang gagawin o magiging desisyon," he added.
Meanwhile, Atty. Dino de Leon, who first filed a disqualification case against Marcoleta before the COMELEC, said Marcoleta must be automatically suspended once the arrest warrant is released.
"His office should be closed down. Sa aking palagay. Lahat tayo taxpayers, bakit tayo magbabayad para sa supposedly hindi nagfufunction na opisina? Dapat hindi kasama sa bilang at dapat sarhan opisina habang suspended," he added.
Asked about the suspicious timing of the filing, De Leon says it's not the core issue.
"The timing is right cause it's pretty recent. Buti nga naifile na. Ngayon may koneksyon ba ito sa impeachment o wala? Sa'kin, regardless. Non-issue. Balik tayo sa ebidensya," De Leon said.
De Leon asserted that the plunder charge stems from Marcoleta's own pronouncement on national TV, making his confession the strongest evidence in the case against him.
"Lagi kasi sasabihin pulitika lang yan, whether political or not, let's take a look at the evidence," he added.
The Palace meanwhile said it will not force any decision, as it respects the judiciary as a co-equal branch of government.
"Walang pag-iimpluwensya, walang pambabraso, walang pagpressure ang gagawin ng ehekutibo dahil ang Pangulo iginagalang ang korte," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing in Vancouver, Canada.
Marcoleta earlier claimed that the charges were filed to prevent him from participating in the trial.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it placed all its units in Metro Manila under Red Alert "to ensure heightened operational readiness" following the protest action by the Iglesia ni Cristo in EDSA White Plains, Quezon City.
"This standard measure keeps AFP personnel and assets prepared to support civil authorities, when requested, in accordance with the Constitution, existing laws, and established procedures," the AFP said in a statement.
AFP also said that it is coordinating with the PNP and other agencies "to promote public safety, security, and the uninterrupted delivery of essential services."
Sa press briefing noong June 29, nagbabala si Palace Press Officer Claire Castro laban sa pag-anib sa aniya’y “kulto” at “kampon ng kasamaan” na nagdarasal ng masama sa kapwa.
Walang pinangalanan si Castro sa pasaring ngunit bumuwelta na siya noon kay Vice President Sara Duterte sa pagbibirong “masamang damo” si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.