DAPAT “physically present” sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Z. Duterte ang mga senator-judges, ayon kay House committee on higher and technical education chair Jude Acidre.

Para sa Tingog party-list representative, dapat aktuwal na nandoon sa proceedings ang lahat ng senator-judges para sa tinatawag na “credibility assessments” na hindi nakukuha ang tunay na essence sa screen.

“The language, the tenor of the language, the behavior of the witness, those are things that cannot be reflected by online participation. Eh paano ka naman maghuhusga kung hindi mo makikita kung paano gumalaw ’yung witness? Paano ’yung dynamics ng pagtanong ng prosecution or defense with the witness? So those are things that are critical towards making a sound judgment,” pahayag ni Acidre.

Isa pang dahilan bakit kailangan na physically present ay dahil hindi na basta lawmakers ang mga senador kundi mga judges.

“Sa House, ginagawa namin ’yung committee hearings on teleconferencing. I think since nangyari ’yung COVID, that’s become part of the process,” ayon kay Acidre.