Rep. Luistro's opening statement during House hearing on VP Sara impeachment — ANC

[0:03] The hearing of the Committee on Justice is hereby called to order. [0:12] Considering that the hearing today is a continuation of the last suspended hearing, [0:20] we will be dispensing with the calling of the role of members. [0:26] At this juncture, the Chair solicits the necessary motion [0:31] to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the last hearing and for the approval of the same. [0:38] Madam Chair. [0:39] The Honorable Mika Gonzalez. [0:43] I move to dispense with the reading and approval of the minutes of the previous meeting. [0:48] There is a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the last hearing [0:53] and for the approval of the same. [0:55] Do I hear a second? [0:56] Second. [0:57] Is there any objection? [1:00] Hearing none, the motion is granted. [1:13] The Chair will address the Committee. [1:22] Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. [1:24] As we resume these proceedings, there are three matters that I must address at the outset. [1:36] Issues that have been repeatedly raised and in some cases misunderstood. [1:45] First, ang una kong babanggitin, this notion that we are already conducting a trial and therefore exceeding our jurisdiction. [2:02] May mga nagsasabi na ang ginagawa daw natin dito ay isang trial. [2:10] At dahil trial daw ito, hindi raw natin ito trabaho, kundi trabaho ng Senado. [2:17] Let us clear the air once and for all. [2:24] Malinaw ang pagkakaiba ng tungkulin ng Kamara at ng Senado. [2:33] The House initiates. [2:37] The Senate decides. [2:41] I will repeat. [2:43] The House initiates. [2:46] The Senate decides. [2:50] Under the Constitution, [2:51] The House has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment. [2:59] Ang papel natin ay suriin at alamin kung may sapat na basehan para dalhin ang kaso sa Senado. [3:13] The Senate, on the other hand, is the impeachment court. [3:19] Sila ang naatasang tumanggap ng kaso at magpasya kung guilty or not guilty ang isang opisyal. [3:33] Ngayon, may kanya-kanya tayong proseso para magampanan ang ating tungkulin. [3:41] Kung ano man ang tawag sa prosesong ito, hearing, inquiry, evaluation, o kahit ano pa, hindi iyon ang mahalaga. [4:00] Ang mahalaga, malinaw ang tungkulin at malinaw ang resulta. [4:07] Sa atin dito sa Kamara, to initiate cases of impeachment. [4:16] Sa kanila sa Senado, to try and decide all cases of impeachment. [4:24] Wala pong agawan ng kapangyarihan. [4:30] So let me be very clear. [4:33] Ang ginagawa natin dito ay hindi trial. [4:37] Ang tanong lang natin, may sapat bang batayan para umusad ang proseso? [4:48] This is merely the beginning, not the end of accountability mechanism. [4:57] This committee, therefore, is not overstepping. [5:03] We are not improvising. [5:07] We are not experimenting. [5:09] We are simply following the rules. [5:16] Our rules grounded in the Constitution. [5:21] Hindi ito fishing expedition. [5:26] Hindi ito bahala na si Batman. [5:30] Hindi tayo nangangapa. [5:34] Alam natin ang hinahanap natin. [5:38] Kung may probable cause ba o wala. [5:42] At malinaw sa atin, [5:46] Hindi natin inaagaw ang kapangyarihan ng Senado [5:51] na magpasya kung guilty o not guilty ang opisyal. [5:59] At ano ang gumagabay sa atin? [6:03] Hindi lamang batas, [6:05] kundi ang tiwala ng taong bayan. [6:10] Hindi lamang teknikalidad, [6:12] kundi pananagutan. [6:14] Steem colleagues, beloved countrymen, [6:20] Kung puro legal na usapin lamang ito, [6:25] Sa Korte Suprema sana, [6:28] Ibinigay ang kapangyarihan ito. [6:32] Steem colleagues, beloved countrymen, [6:36] Kung teknikalidad ang importante, [6:40] Sahusgado sana, [6:42] Ibinigay ang kapangyarihan ito. [6:45] Pero hindi. [6:51] Ibinigay ito sa Kamara, [6:55] Ibinigay ito sa atin, [6:58] Dahil tayo ang kinatawan ng sambayanang Pilipino. [7:05] As I said earlier, [7:07] We have the exclusive power to impeach. [7:12] At ang ibig sabihin ng exclusive ay malinaw. [7:16] Sa Kamara, [7:19] Nagsisimula ang impeachment process. [7:24] Sa atin ang unang galaw. [7:27] Sa atin ang direksyon. [7:31] At gaya ng sabi ng mga kabataan, [7:36] Hawak natin ang beat. [7:41] Hawak natin ang beat. [7:46] At sa kapangyarihan ito, [7:49] Pananagutan sa taong bayan [7:52] Ang dapat manaig. [7:53] No other consideration must prevail [7:58] Except what is best for the country. [8:07] Second, [8:09] Ito yung pangalawa na kailangan kong banggitin. [8:14] There is this claim [8:15] That the country has so many other problems [8:20] And that this is a distraction. [8:25] Tama naman. [8:28] Marami tayong kinakaharap. [8:31] Sobra. [8:32] Mahal na gasolina at bilihin. [8:37] Mababang sahod. [8:40] Kakulangan sa serbisyo. [8:42] At ang tila, [8:43] Walang katapusang korupsyon. [8:47] But let me ask, [8:50] Does the existence of many problems mean [8:53] We should ignore one specific problem? [9:00] The committee can perform its duty [9:02] While government continues to function. [9:06] Multitasking ang ating gobyerno. [9:11] At higit sa lahat, [9:15] Sa pagkakaroon ng problema, [9:18] Hindi dahilan para umiwas. [9:23] Hindi dahilan para hindi sumagot. [9:28] Mas makabubuti pa nga [9:30] Naharapin na ito ngayon [9:33] Kaysa patagalin pa. [9:38] Kung may sagot, [9:40] Ilabas na. [9:43] Kung may paliwanag, [9:45] Ibigay na. [9:46] Tandaan natin, [9:50] May mga akusasyon dito [9:52] Na hindi naman bago. [9:56] Last year pa ito. [9:59] Ngunit ano ang ginawa ng vicepresidente? [10:04] Umiwas. [10:07] Nagtago sa mga teknikalidad. [10:11] Ang sabi nga, [10:13] Not just once, [10:15] But twice. [10:16] If we repeat this cycle, [10:21] Iwas. [10:24] Teknikalidad. [10:25] Sino ang makapagsasabi [10:28] Na hindi na naman tayo [10:31] Babalik dito sa susunod na taon. [10:37] Kaya ngayon, [10:40] Sagutin na. [10:43] Linawi na. [10:46] Tapusin na. [10:49] At kapag nasagot, [10:51] Lahat tayo ay malilinawan. [10:53] Because hearings like this [10:57] Work both ways. [11:01] We can proceed. [11:03] But remember, [11:05] We can also dismiss. [11:08] After we go through this process, [11:15] And after we review the evidence, [11:19] We will be asking ourselves, [11:23] May probable cause ba? [11:25] O wala? [11:26] Pwede nating ituloy, [11:30] Pero pwede rin nating ibasura. [11:36] Kaya kung may katotohanang magpapawalang sala, [11:41] Mas lalong dapat itong marinig. [11:45] Marami tayong problema. [11:48] Totoo yan. [11:50] Kaya kailangan itong harapin. [11:53] Para umusad, [11:55] Para mabawasan, [11:57] Para matapos. [12:00] Dahil ang problema ang iniiwasan, [12:02] At tinatalikuran, [12:05] Lalong lumalaki, [12:08] Para sugat na ayaw linisin. [12:12] Habang pinapatagal, [12:15] Lalong lumalala. [12:19] Third, [12:22] At ito yung panghuli, [12:24] Na kailangan kong banggitin. [12:27] We recognize, [12:29] That there are petitions now, [12:33] Pending before, [12:35] The Honorable Supreme Court, [12:38] Intended to stop, [12:40] These proceedings. [12:42] Yes, [12:45] There are petitions, [12:47] In the Honorable Supreme Court. [12:50] One, [12:52] Filed by a group led, [12:54] By the lawyer of Pastor Kibuloy, [12:58] Ang nagsasabing si Yaraw, [13:01] Ang appointed son of God. [13:04] Kung kaya nitong pigilan ang lindol, [13:08] Kaya rin ba nitong pigilan, [13:11] Ang mandato ng konstitusyon? [13:12] The second one, [13:18] Filed by the vice president herself, [13:22] As usual, [13:23] Represented by several lawyers, [13:27] Lampas sampong abogado. [13:31] And the third one, [13:34] Filed by several individuals, [13:38] Mostly lawyers, [13:41] Ang dami-dami namang abogado, [13:45] Questioning the very core of our rules. [13:49] And just yesterday, [13:55] We received the fourth one. [13:58] It was filed by Carpio and lawyers, [14:03] With the regional trial court of Quezon City. [14:07] Stim colleagues, [14:09] Beloved countrymen, [14:11] Total of four petitions, [14:14] Na ang layon, [14:17] Ay patigilin, [14:19] Ang pagdinig na ito. [14:20] Ang palagi nating sinasabi, [14:26] Public office is a public trust. [14:30] Indeed, [14:31] Easier said than done. [14:36] Ngunit, [14:37] Sa pagkahaba-haba ng mga ito, [14:41] Ng apat na petitions na ito, [14:45] Let me tell you, [14:47] Wala ni isa, [14:49] Na sumagot, [14:51] Sa mga importanteng akusasyon, [14:54] Laban sa vice presidente. [14:56] Puro technicalities lamang ang tinalakay. [15:03] Ang taong bayan ay naghahanap ng sagot, [15:08] Hindi ng papel. [15:11] Simple lang naman, [15:14] Ang mga akusasyon. [15:16] Halimbawa, [15:17] Nagwaldas daw ng pera ng taong bayan, [15:21] At may tagong yaman daw ang vice presidente. [15:25] Sinagot ba yan? [15:27] Ng mga petisyon? [15:28] Hindi. [15:32] Puro technicalities lang. [15:36] Sinasabi din nila, [15:39] May one year bar. [15:43] Sinasabi din nila, [15:44] Ang nag-refer daw ng impeachment na ito, [15:48] Ay ang speaker lamang. [15:50] Hindi ang buong kamera. [15:54] Napakasimple ng sagot. [15:57] Yung one year bar. [15:59] Paulit-ulit na ito. [16:01] Tandaan natin na lumipas na ang isang taon, [16:07] At saka lamang muling nagkaroon ng impeachment process na ito. [16:15] At tungkol sa referral, [16:18] Tandaan din natin na ang speaker ay hindi kumikilos ng mag-isa. [16:26] Siya ay kumikilos bilang kinatawan ng buong kamera, [16:32] Ayon sa ating mga patakaran. [16:34] Rest assured that all these procedural questions will be addressed. [16:46] Pero aminin natin, [16:48] Ang mga usaping ito ay sadyang technical. [16:53] At baka hindi masyadong maintindihan ng karaniwang mamamayan. [17:02] At marahil, [17:05] Iyon ang layunin nila. [17:08] Lunurin ang katotohanan sa ingay ng technicalidad. [17:13] Habang nagde-debate ang mga abogado sa kagalanggalang na Korte Suprema, [17:22] Ang taong bayan ay patuloy na nagtatanong, [17:28] Nasaan ang pera? [17:31] Bakit ito nagastos ng ganun kabilis? [17:35] May pananagutan ba talaga ang vicepresidente? [17:39] We will answer the lawyers in the Supreme Court. [17:48] But we will answer the Filipino people here. [17:57] Narito po ang proseso. [18:00] Para linawin ang mga akusasyon, [18:03] Dito natin ito dapat pag-usapan. [18:08] Let us not forget that what is truly supreme is the Constitution. [18:16] Malinaw ang sinasabi ng konstitusyon. [18:22] The House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate impeachment [18:31] and the authority to determine its own rules. [18:39] Hindi ito imbento. [18:43] Hindi ito kagustuhan ng iilan. [18:45] Ito ay mandato ng konstitusyon. [18:52] Now, the vicepresident says, [18:57] The petition in the Supreme Court is not meant to avoid the process, [19:03] but to seek clarity. [19:07] But if it is clarity that it is sought, [19:11] bakit hindi dito? [19:15] Dito ang clarificatory hearing. [19:18] Dito dapat magpaliwanag. [19:23] Kung handang humarap, [19:25] dapat dito humarap. [19:30] Matagal na nating naririnig. [19:35] Handa raw. [19:38] Handa saan? [19:40] Sa press statement? [19:43] Sa social media? [19:45] Pero pagdating dito sa prosesong may saysay, [19:49] nawawala. [19:54] Hindi sapat ang sabihin handa. [19:57] Kailangan magpakita. [20:00] Kailangan sumagot. [20:03] Kung walang kasalanan, [20:05] simple lang. [20:07] Magpakita sumagot, [20:10] hindi sa labas, [20:12] kundi dito. [20:16] In closing, [20:18] let me stress, [20:20] this process is not about personalities. [20:27] It is about accountability. [20:30] It is about responsibility. [20:34] Ito ay paninindigan para sa katotohanan. [20:39] Impeachment is the people's constitutional mechanism to hold public officials accountable. [20:50] Tandaan natin, [20:53] ito ay pagtukoy lamang kung may probable cause o wala. [21:02] At bahagi ng prosesong ito, [21:05] ang pagdinig natin ngayon. [21:07] Isang pagpapaliwanag ng mga ebidensya mula sa COA, sa NBI, PSA, at marami pang ahensya. [21:30] Inaasahan din natin ang pagdalo ni Ramil Madriaga na sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon at sa isang public hearing ay makakapagpatunay sa kanyang salaysay. [21:50] For the very first time, we hope to hear directly from Ramil Madriaga upang makatulong sa paglilinaw kung may batayan ba ang reklamo laban sa vicepresidente. [22:10] Uulitin ko po, hindi ito paghusga. [22:15] Gusto lang nating maliwanagan. [22:19] Gusto lang nating matiyak kung dapat bang umusad ang proseso. [22:25] Our duty is not to pass final judgment, but to clarify and in the process to seek the truth. [22:40] Truth is rarely simple and it is never convenient. [22:50] We do not pause our search for it simply because, first, there are some procedural questions. [22:59] Second, there are more pressing problems. [23:06] And third, there are petitions before the Supreme Court. [23:11] No, we will not pause to that. [23:17] Guided by the Constitution and the will of the people, truth must be pursued regardless. [23:28] It remains the foundation upon which justice and accountability stand. [23:34] We must continue to follow it wherever it leads, guided not by fear, not by expedience, but by the voice of conscience and the trust of the nation. [23:55] Sa huli, babalik tayo sa simula, pagsuri natin ang ebidensya, ano ang tunay na gagabay sa atin. [24:10] Hindi lamang batas, kundi tiwala ng taong bayan. [24:15] Hindi lamang teknikalidad, kundi ang pananagutan. [24:23] No other consideration must prevail except what is best for the country. [24:32] Maraming salamat po.