SEN. Bong Go on Friday said the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should serve as an opportunity for the truth to emerge and for falsehoods to be exposed before the public.
In a statement on Friday, Go emphasized that senators acting as judges have a clear constitutional mandate: to hear the case impartially and decide based solely on evidence, the law and the truth.
He stressed that political affiliations or alliances should not influence the proceedings, and that every senator must fulfill his or her constitutional duty regardless of political loyalties.
“Whether Duterte bloc or any other bloc, we Filipinos must perform our duties. And I will be impartial,” Go said.
He warned that he would not hesitate to call out what he believes are false statements or fabricated evidence, citing testimonies from previous congressional inquiries that he described as questionable.
“So if I see a lie — that’s why I didn’t speak the other day — if I see a lie in what is being presented, I will say it’s a lie,” he said.
Go noted that the impeachment court provides a more structured venue for cross-examination and fact-finding, compared to earlier congressional hearings.
“This is our chance to bring out the truth. We saw a lot in their hearings; we saw some liars. This is where we will ask them. This is my chance to ask questions and make a decision,” he said.
The Senate formally convened as an impeachment court on May 18, with senators taking their oath as senator-judges for the trial of Vice President Duterte.
