Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno on Monday said that holding public watch parties to monitor Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial would help citizens better understand the issues surrounding what could be one of the country’s most high-profile proceedings.
In a media briefing, he suggested that schools could hold public viewing of Duterte’s trial to help Filipinos and civil society monitor the proceedings and deepen their understanding of the case.
‘I am also calling on and suggesting, especially to law schools and other institutions, that it would be good if we could hold watch parties so we can be enlightened and better understand the process,’ Diokno, a prosecutor for the trial, said in Filipino.
The impeachment trial is expected to draw wide public attention as Duterte remains one of the country’s most influential political figures and is leading contender for the presidency in the 2028 election.
‘In the process of expanding political participation we are also encouraging everyone to have their own livestreams,’ prosecution panel spokeswoman and Kabataan Rep. Renee Co said in the same briefing. ‘I’m sure these will be happening in our homes and classrooms.’
On May 11, the House overwhelmingly voted to elevate the charges of corruption and constitutional violations against Duterte to the Senate, with 257 lawmakers finding probable cause to indict Duterte under four impeachment articles:
Culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust through the systematic misuse, misappropriation, and irregular use of confidential funds amounting to P500 million under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and P112.5 million under the Department of Education (DepEd);
Culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust when Duterte amassed unexplained wealth manifestly disproportionate to her lawful income and earnings during her incumbency as a public official, failing to disclose all assets in her statements of net worth for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024;
Bribery, graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust when she gave monetary gifts or payments to Department of Education officials to induce the violation and circumvention of procurement and other related laws;
Culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust for allegedly contracting the assassination of the president, the first lady, and the former House speaker, making grave threats, and actively inciting sedition against the Republic.