The Impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte

Everybody in Metro Manila it would seem but most likely more Filipinos abroad...they're keeping close watch on the ongoing televised Impeachment Trial of VP Sara Duterte just to know if she's viable to run as President in the next National Elections as I am, a deciding factor on our collective fate as citizens of this National Economy, the Phillipines, the Maharlika of SEA despite being children of diaspora.

But I am watching with a different reason other than the majority of Filipinos', the majority population who belong below the poverty line. I am watching because I want to honor the status of my father in life when he was acting judge at the Special Court of Tax Appeals where I was given a few months to be his Executive Assistant. My brothers Rocky who was a UP Law Student at that time and Aly who was studying at the College of Economics at UP and me who was also a student of Film at UP then were all made his Executive Assistants at one point to earn income. It was our first employment and the salary given us were all with government money to put it bluntly.
With the way our government has handled daddy's case that extended as his frugal almost stingy treatment of me esp in his waning years in retirement (in other words, the minimal government salary he got just to keep his own family going on a daily basis, because it was a struggle for both my parents to support a brood of five); I am still trying to honor his or their legacy just to make fully appreciate mine. Make sense? 

A looming decision by the Senate Judges will be the sole factor of this case in determining a verdict of conviction or acquittal for Sara, of whether she goes or stays in office, in the political scene, in the limelight of this high-society-crazy-obssessed community where "who you know" padrino system mentality takes precedence on "what you know" progress-based-on-merits mental set...permanently or temporarily. Or if "the Powers that Currently Are" stay in power indefinitely or if "the People" will actually, finally have a Voice that truly effects a shift in this current model we're having (a viscious cycle of corruption, in other words). 

Currently on Day 28, we are hearing Article II of the Trial, Declaration of SALN and Unexplained Wealth. 
The first Article of Misapropriation of Confidential Funds of the OVP has already transpired with overwhelming evidence against the VP as established with the ff. key issues raised: a roster of fabricated names or aliases that acted as recipients of these confidential funds or how these missing funds that could have been used as school desks and school building classroom construction or repair (basic and essential needs) were disbursed like Mary Grace Piattos, Antonio Pagong, Timon Andrew, Pusa Don, Piang Shane, Ngitngit Xuniso P. Belat, May Pamana, Jay Kamote, Miggy Mango, Pia Piattos-Lim, Renan Piatos, Mico Harina. This list of names are not registered at PSA (the Philippine Statistics Authority responsible for keeping record of every existing Filipino). They all sound like a Grocery List or a Food Wordplay. Those under Team Asim are not even listed here in my blog. If all these fabricated names who stood as aliases for her confidential funds disbursed as likely multiple bank accounts for her are not enough for her conviction, then I wouldn't be surprised because a large chunk of the Senate Judges who decide her fate are either absentee (people jailed or not in the country with their own pending cases against them) or whose conviction is to protect her. The word "conviction" as synonymous with faith in a person or entity without needing proof.

Prosecution has pleaded a Prima Facie Presumption as their argument on Article II implying or stating the VP using the Office of the Vice President *OVP* as her platform to collect 7-digit numbers in millions of pesos which goes against our Constitution or even the American Constitution where ours is based on. In essence, you do not use your public office (as a sworn public servant) to earn profit from private businesses or corporations you own. That would be illegal, owning privately-owned Corporations... as this is not protected by Law.

If the Prosecution has turned this Prima Facie Presumption as Prima Facie Case against VP Sara Duterte, then Article II has successfully been argued. So far, today Day 29 Wednesday, Article II is still under progress. No evidence reached despite overwhelming evidence! Prima Facie in Latin literally means First Face, or at first glance. In Legal Practice, a prima facie case is the initial evidence provided by either party of a trial or hearing (more often than not the Prosecution) to prove a claim or win the case provided it is sound and cannot be disputed by counter claims or evidences (of the Defence) to disprove it. And a prima facie case against Duterte should be enough to convict or prosecute her.

We have spent a month arriving at Article II so far. There is no end in sight of a likely verdict. When they say that the wheels of justice move at a slow pace, I won't be surprised the way this trial is proceeding. But rather than losing my patience over this, remember.. even if Sara Duterte or of the majority of the Senate Judges finally reach a verdict of Acquittal for her, I won't even be surprised anymore as majority of the members of Senate are really under the grips of the Dutertes. Maybe Sara Duterte will be the next President of the Philippines in the coming 2028 National Elections. 

At this point, "I don't really care, do you?"