Abante issues appeal to VP Duterte supporters in Mindanao as impeachment trial moves forward

Map of Mindanao (left), Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. (Freeworldmaps.net, MANILA BULLETIN)

Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. is asking supporters of impeachment trial respondent Vice President Sara Duterte from Mindanao and elsewhere to judge the actions of the prosecution team based on their constitutional duty.

The impeachment respondent had this to say even as the high-stakes trial against the popular official from Mindanao enters its third month.

The House, which prepared the articles of impeachment against Duterte, earlier formed a team of 26 public and private prosecutors tasked to convict the Vice President.

The prosecution team members have since increasingly become the target of troll activity and bashings from Duterte supporters.

“Ang pakiusap lamang po namin sa taong bayan ay makinig at manood po sila at sila na ang manghusga on their own kung talagang ginagawa ng prosecution team ang kanilang tungkulin ayon sa Konstitusyon, ayon sa batas,” Abante, an impeachment complaint endorser, said. (Our only appeal to the public is for them to listen and watch the proceedings and judge for themselves whether the prosecution team is truly performing its duty in accordance with the Constitution and the law).

He stressed that the House prosecution’s responsibility is to present its case rather than dictate the conclusion that Filipinos or the senator-judges should eventually reach.

“We cannot make the judgment now. Ang gagawin lamang ng prosecution team ay ilahad sa taong bayan lahat ng mga ebidensya,” Abante said. (We cannot make the judgment now. The only thing the prosecution team will do is present all the evidence to the public).

He said the defense will likewise get the opportunity to challenge prosecution witnesses, contest documentary evidence and present its own case before the senator-judges determine whether any of the impeachment articles has been proven.

Asked what guarantee he could give Mindanaoans, the veteran lawmaker said:

“Makakaasa po ang taong bayan, kayo man ay sumusuporta sa Vice President o hindi, na maririnig po ninyo rito ay mga ebidensya na inilahad ng prosecution team.” (The public can be assured that whether or not you support the Vice President, what you will hear here are the pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution team).

Duterte retains deep political support in Mindanao, particularly in Davao City, where she is a former mayor and vice mayor.

For Abante, keeping the proceedings open to public scrutiny gives Filipinos–including those from Duterte’s bailiwick–the opportunity to evaluate the case beyond competing political narratives.

“I hope that ang mga taong bayan po ang makikita nila ang mga ebidensya tungkol dito, and they will actually appreciate all the evidence presented. ‘Yun po ang nais natin,” he said. (I hope that the public will see the evidence presented in this case and that they will actually appreciate all the evidence presented. That is what we want). — Ellson Quismorio