By Rey Anthony H. Chiu

Secretary Antonio Trillanes IV blew into town Friday to share his thoughts about the decision of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court. In a sortie which he termed as part of his consultations to listen to the pulse of the people, impeachment judge and Senator Antonio made clear his stand: that he intends to use political acceptability as a sole criterion to evaluate the projected outcomes of either policy alternative of conviction or acquittal. Speaking at a press conference at Le Pensionne de San Jose Friday, Trillanes who admitted he was offered as a guest candidate of the administration party, stated in a speech delivered before UP National College of Public Administration and Governance that he believes the impeachment is a political process. Trillanes is one of the impeachment judges tasked to weigh the merits of the impeachment case against Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Renato Corona.

The senator who has been jailed for leading a reform movement stressed in his prepared statement that reading the transcripts of the US impeachment, which he said is a “virtual copy of our own,” that he found not a single book or reference that says that the impeachment is a judicial trial solely based on evidence. As such, he said “my verdict should not be based solely on evidence as it now becomes a latter of public policy.” On the other hand, he also said that impeachment evidence should not be completely disregarded. The strength and weakness of the evidence, and how they are presented could very well affect the political acceptability of the policy alternative, according to the senator judge. As to appreciation of evidence, he reminds that the Constitution and the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials did not specify the quantum of evidence required to convict.

As to the determination of political acceptability, he said he intends to use policy research tools in quantitative and qualitative researches as well as stakeholder analysis. “These, along with extensive consultations could very well filter the noise of the mob and undue media influence from the true will of the people,” he stated. Trillanes, who shall have finished a term by the 2013 elections, insisted that the Senate is still working in the mornings while the impeachment trials open in the afternoons. Sharing that Fridays would be their time for public consultations, Trillanes fell short of admitting his sorties would also be a launch pad for another senatorial stint come 2013. Here in Bohol for a general convention of the Bohol Chapter of the Magdalo group of reformist soldiers, Trillanes also listened to concerns which Boholanos need to be brought for legislative action.