EDITORIAL — Senate also on trial

Impeachment is a political process, so yes, politics played a role in the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte by the House of Representatives.

But impeachment is also about accountability – the only process by which the two highest ranking officials of the land, along with members of the Supreme Court and the heads of constitutional bodies can be held liable for wrongdoing and be ousted if found guilty.

Serious charges have been hurled by the House against Duterte, whose impeachment trial begins today. These involve alleged unexplained wealth, bribery and the misuse of confidential funds under her watch in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

Expected to be tackled first in the Articles of Impeachment is the charge of grave threats and betrayal of public trust. Prosecutors have said that this is because it is the easiest to prove, since Duterte herself provided the key evidence: her video declaring that she had contracted someone to assassinate President Marcos, his wife Liza and cousin Martin Romualdez in case the Vice President herself is killed.

The trial is getting underway with the Senate suffering from a loss of public trust as several of its members themselves are implicated in wrongdoing.

Ronald dela Rosa has been in hiding for nearly eight months now, with full pay for himself and his relatives in his Senate office, to dodge an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

Jinggoy Estrada is being held without bail for plunder for allegedly receiving P573 million in kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects. He is under a 90-day preventive suspension ordered by the Sandiganbayan.

Last Friday, Rodante Marcoleta became the second senator to be indicted for plunder before the anti-graft court, for receiving P75 million in undeclared funds from three supporters of his Senate bid.

Another senator faces a probe for questionable campaign donations. Two are under investigation for alleged stock market manipulation. Another is expected to face court indictment in connection with flood control kickbacks. Still another may be charged with obstruction of justice.

Before the flood control corruption scandal erupted, the Senate was already drawing flak for being an emblem of dynastic excess, with four sets of siblings sitting simultaneously in a 24-member chamber.

A chaotic leadership coup on May 11, marked by gunfire that allowed Dela Rosa to return to hiding, further eroded confidence in the Senate.

Now the chamber is tasked to hold the Vice President accountable. The credibility of the impeachment proceedings will not only strike a blow for good governance, but also save the Senate from the depths to which it has fallen.

The Senate itself is on trial.