NAGBABALA si House prosecutor Lorenz R. Defensor, ng ikatlong distrito ng Iloilo, na hindi puwedeng isantabi at balewalain na lamang ang bigat ng pagbabanta umano ni Vice President Sara Z. Duterte laban kay President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., dahl walang sesyon ang Kongreso at panahon ng kampanya.

“There is a threat, a direct threat, at the life of a sitting president by an incumbent vice president,” saad ni Defensor, miyembro ng House prosecution panel, sa panayam ni Karen Davila noong Miyerkules sa programang Headstart ng ANC.

“I don’t see how it can be overruled by a break or it can be overruled by a campaign. When the Constitution says the trial shall forthwith proceed, that’s clear enough,” dagdag ni Defensor, na isa ring House Deputy Majority Leader.

Binigyang-diin ni Defensor na ang banta sa buhay ng Pangulo, na kasama sa Articles of Impeachment, ay nangangailangan ng agarang aksyon at dapat mas unahin kaysa anumang politikal o institusyunal na pagka antala

“We have to remember that time is of the essence in this impeachment process because of the Articles of Impeachment and the accusations under the articles of impeachment,” sabi ni Defensor.

“Actually, even the Senate rules acknowledge that the trial shall forthwith proceed,” punto ni Defensor.

Muli niyang binigyang diin ang bigat ng alegasyon.

“If you look at Article 1 … of the impeachment complaint, there is a threat. Sabi mismo ng ating bise presidente, may kinausap na siya at pumayag na ang nakausap niya,” sabi ni Defensro.

“May taong nakahandang pumatay ng presidente, ng asawa ng presidente, at ng Speaker of the House of Representatives,” babala niya.

“Don’t you think that there is a national threat that should be faced not only by the impeachment court, but by the people who voted, the 31 million people who voted for Sara Duterte and the 31 million who voted for Bongbong Marcos?” tanong ni Defensor.

Ibinasura niya ang mga pagtatangkang ihambing ang isyu sa retorika na ginawa ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Hindi rin aniya niya dapat itong ihambing sa mga retorikang binibigkas ng dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

“What we want for this impeachment trial, Karen, is not to normalize this behavior of just saying na puwede mong patayin,” sabi ni Defensor.

Sinabi ni Defensor na dapat magkaroon ng pantay na pananagutan ang mga opisyal ng pamahalaan at ordinaryong mamamayan.

“Let’s take example again of that teacher na hinuli, pinosasan at kinulong nung panahon ni President Duterte,” sabi niya.

“That should serve as a lesson to every normal and ordinary Filipino na bakit kapag presidente ang nananakot ay okay lang at ‘pag pangkaraniwang tao ay huhulihin kayo, poposasan,” dagdag niya.

“That should never be the case and it should never be normalized especially if the threat for a contract that was agreed upon was made by an incumbent VP against a sitting President, na papalitan niya just in case may mangyari sa Presidenteng ‘yun,” ani Defensor

Bilang tugon naman sa alegasyon na pinopolitika lang ang impeachment at para sa kanilang sariling interes, tugon ni Defensor: “Let’s not generalize, there are 300 congressmen… not all members of Congress agreed to what Duterte did.”

Inilahad niya ang ilang panukalang batas na kaniyang tinutulan noong administrasyon ni Duterte.

“I voted against many things na pinu-push niya at pinapasa niya sa Kongreso tulad ng Anti-Terrorism Bill, which I think up to now is unconstitutional,” sabi ni Defensor.

“The amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act which violates Article III and Bill of Rights of Filipinos,” pagpapatuloy niya.

“We support the good things that he has done, but we have to set in sa mga bagay na hindi dapat. And we have the chance to do that right now and stop this trend of silent following,” sabi ni Defensor.

Bilang pagtatapos, binigyang diin ni Defensor ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng tiwala ng publiko sa pinakamatataas na lider ng bansa.

“Dapat mapukaw natin ang mamamayan na ang bise presidente at isang presidente, they should earn the public trust as being elected as the highest and second highest official,” saad ni Defensor.