Senator-judges Imee, Robin join VP Sara in Malaysia

Two of the senator-judges who will hear the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte joined her in Malaysia on Thursday to commemorate Independence Day.

As seen in Raffy Tima’s “24 Oras” report, Senator Robin Padilla went up on stage during the event, attended by overseas Filipino workers in Kuala Lumpur, and declared Duterte the next president of the Philippines.

“Gusto ko muna kong mabigay pugay unang-una sa susunod na pangulo na si Inday Sara Duterte,” he said, followed by the chanting of “Duterte” by the audience.

“Ang sarap! Kapag sinisagaw mo lalo akong tumatapang eh!” he added.

(First and foremost, I want to honor the next president of the Phiippines, Inday Sara Duterte. It feels good! When you shout that it makes me braver.)

At the same event, Senator Imee Marcos joked about incidents during the convening of the Senate as an impeachment court.

“Higit sa lahat, kamuntik nang buntalin si Senator Joel Villanueva. Maisug kami talaga. Ako nasigawan ko si Risa Hontiveros. Sorry ha, pasensya,” Marcos said.

(Most of all, Senator Joel Villanueva was almost hit. We’re really brave. I shouted at [Senator] Risa Hontiveros. Sorry about that.)

She also mocked the judges' robes that she, Padilla, and Senator Cynthia Villar refused to wear.

“Alam po ninyo, dalawang gabi, isang gabi, hilo na kami. Tumayo kami bilang hukom at nagsuot ng damit bilang hukom. Nakita siguro ng iba sa inyo. Pero kami, mga pasaway ni Robin, hindi kami nagsuot. Ayaw namin nun, pangit. It's not my color. Alam po ninyo, ang totoo, tumayo kami pagkat kaakibat ng kalayaan ang responsibilidad na maging patas at marangal,” she added.

(You know, two nights, one night, we’re dizzy. We stood as judges and wore the robes. Some may have seen it, but Robin and I were being naughty. We did not wear it. We don’t want it, it's ugly. It’s not my color. You know, the truth is, we stood up because with freedom comes the responsibility to be fair and honorable.)

Marcos also called for support for Duterte.

“Samahan ninyo ako na tayong lahat, sa likod ni VP Inday Sara Duterte, ay maninindigan para sa bayan, para sa konstitusyon, para sa ating bansa dahil tayo ay malayang mamayang Pilipino, ang mga tunay na hukom ng bayan,” Marcos said.

(Let us join together, behind VP Inday Sara Duterte, to stand for the country, for the Constitution, because we are free Filipino citizens, the true judges of this country.)

In her own speech, Duterte aired her own grievances, particularly regarding her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity during his administration’s war on drugs.

“Tulad kay pangulong Duterte, dahil sa kanyang patuloy na pagmamahal at malasakit sa ating bayan, ay itinurin siyang kalaban ng mga taong lasing sa kapangyarihan. Gamit ang dahas at hiram na kapangyarihan ay papahirapan nila tayo,” the Vice President said.

(Like President Duterte, because of his continued love and concern for our people, he has been considered an enemy by those intoxicated with power. Using violence and borrowed power, they will make us suffer.)

“Napanood niyo ba yung speech ni Senator Imee doon sa Senado? Marami ang nagsabi sa akin na ipaliwanag niya na ng maayos kung ano ba yung nangyayari sa impeachment na ginagawa [Did you watch Senator Imee's speech in the Senate? Many people said that she properly explained what is happening in the impeachment process]. The attacks are cowardly, yet openly disingenuous and arrogant. Absence of basic human decency and respect for the rule of law. Typical of people drunk in power,” she added.

The Vice President also explained why she always invites Marcos to wherever she goes.

“Sinasabi ko sa kanya, hindi ako ang magbabalik kay dating Pangulong Duterte sa Pilipinas dahil ang kapatid mo ang nagpadala sa kanya sa Hague, ikaw ang magbabalik sa kanya sa Pilipinas. Para siyang nakahostage. Bibitawan ko lang yan siya kapag si dating Pangulong Duterte ay nabalik na sa Davao City," Sara said.

(I told her that I’m not the one bringing back former president Duterte in the Philippines because your brother took him to The Hague, so you will be the one bringing him back. She is somehow being taken hostage. I will only release her once former president Duterte is returned to Davao City.)

Marcos and Padilla were among the 18 senator-judges who favored the return of the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, the writ of summons has been delivered to the Vice President’s office. She has until June 23 to respond to the summons of the impeachment court. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News