Rules that constrain politicians seem to no longer matter — if the prize is access to more polarized votes. The Senate needs to disincentivize this behavior.
This Sara Duterte impeachment trial began with senators taking an additional oath. Under the rules they imposed on themselves, they swore to “do impartial justice according to the Constitution.” Their Impeachment Rules also require them to observe “political neutrality.” Impartiality and neutrality.
Perhaps this is why some senators saw fit to repeatedly lecture their colleagues about due process as if they were high school students. Some even implied that non-lawyers would be less capable of ensuring the ongoing impeachment trial adheres to constitutional standards.
Yet, nothing says “impartial justice” quite like a senator-judge who reposts a video attacking a member of the prosecution team in between hearings. And nothing says “neutrality” quite like using a spliced video to make it appear that Akbayan Representative and prosecutor Chel Diokno said things he never did. All this just a few days after another senator complained why the prosecution was always “one-sided.” It seems the very concept of a fair trial has been turned on its head.
