The House Prosecution Team is eyeing engaging translators in major Philippine languages, including Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Bicolano and others, to help explain the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte clearly and accurately to the public.
In a statement, Prosecution adviser and spokesman Robert Ace Barbers said that the initiative aims to make hte proceedings easier to understand, especially for Filipinos who are more comfortable receiving information in their own language..
“The issue of impeachment is very broad. It is not just a legal matter. There are procedural, legal, and public information aspects involved. That is why it cannot be explained by just one person. It requires a team that communicates a unified message and a consistent narrative.” Barbers said.
He added that while the panel has lawyer-spokesmen handling legal and procedural matters, his role is to strengthen public communication and ensure that accurate and timely information reaches ordinary Filipinos.
Barbers, a former Surigao del Norte representative, stressef that the impeachment process is an accountability mechanism provided under the Constitution that can be applied even to the most powerful in government, and the public deserves to understand how it works before forming conclusions.
He also called on Filipinos to watch the trial instead of relying on social media commentary.
