Senator Bam Aquino- Photo courtesy of Bam Aquino/Facebook.
Senator Bam Aquino said he would ask the impeachment court to make public all evidence presented during the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Aquino made the statement on Sunday, a day before the Senate opens Duterte’s impeachment trial at 2 p.m. Monday.
He said he would file a motion within the first week of proceedings to allow the public release of evidence presented in the trial.
Aquino also urged Filipinos to closely monitor the proceedings, form their own views, and be cautious against misinformation.
He said an impeachment trial carries serious consequences because it could overturn the mandate given by voters to an elected official.
Aquino said the charges in an impeachment case are also grave, citing graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery and high crimes.
As one of the senator-judges, Aquino said he would examine the evidence carefully and work for a fair judgment free from political colors, personal ties or rivalries.
Duterte is facing allegations involving misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of Department of Education officials, and threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.