Garin condemns bullying of House prosecutors, urges focus on impeachment evidence

MANILA, Philippines – Deputy Speaker Janette Garin on Thursday condemned what she described as the bullying of House prosecutors following online attacks by supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte over the appearance of members of the prosecution panel, urging the public to focus on the evidence instead of personal attacks. The criticism stemmed from social media posts and memes circulated after the first week of trial, in which supporters of Duterte ridiculed lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro over visible saliva while delivering the prosecution’s opening statement and prosecution counsel Amando Virgil Ligutan after he appeared to have a runny nose during the presentation of evidence. READ: ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial Week 1 highlights Asked to comment as a physician, Garin said the attacks reflected a decline in public discourse and had no medical or scientific basis. “Unang una, ikinagugulat ko bakit ba tayo pumupunta sa ganung kababa ng discourse?” Garin said during a press briefing. The former Health secretary explained that saliva and dry mouth are normal physiological conditions that may result from dehydration, prolonged speaking or certain medications, while colds are caused by viral infections. “Saliva is part of a normal person. At kapag medyo nade-dehydrate ka, o ikaw ay umiinom ng maintenance medications, kaakibat nito ay talagang medyo nagkakaroon ng dryness. Normal ba ito? Yes! So why focus on that?” she said. Garin also rejected claims circulating online that saliva or colds are signs of dishonesty. “Never in the history of the medical community has colds or sipon been a cause of lying,” she said. She said the attacks divert attention from the issues being tried before the Senate impeachment court. “Hindi rin natin pwedeng i-focus sa laway o kung anuman ’yan, kasi ang tanong doon, tama ba ang sinasabi nila? Nagsisinungaling ba ‘yung ating mga abogado at ‘yung ating mga prosecutors? Ginagawa ba nila ang kanilang tungkulin?” Garin said. Describing the online ridicule as bullying, Garin stressed that the prosecution panel was simply performing its constitutional duty. “Hindi! Kailangan bang pagtawanan ‘yan? No! It’s actually bullying. The prosecutors are just doing their job,” she said. She urged the public to stop spreading misinformation and return the discussion to the merits of the impeachment case. “Andyan na ‘yung impeachment court. Ipagpatuloy, tuldukan at sagutin ang mga dapat sagutin. Huwag ilihis. Let us avoid personal attacks. Let us focus on the issue at hand,” Garin said. House prosecutor Manila Rep. Joel Chua, meanwhile, said appearing before the Senate impeachment court is physically demanding, recalling that prosecutors were initially not allowed to bring drinking water into the session hall. “Nandoon din ’yung stress, nandoon din po ’yung tension,” Chua said. He recalled that on the first day of trial, security personnel stopped him from bringing water inside the chamber, requiring him to finish it before entering. “Naaalala ko po kasi ’yung first day, nung ako po pumapasok may dala po akong tubig, pinagbawalan po akong makapasok ng tubig dahil bawal daw po sa loob,” he said. Chua thanked Sen. Pia Cayetano for later proposing that prosecutors be allowed to have water during the proceedings. “Napakahirap din po noon, magsasalita ka doon, tuyo na ’yung bibig mo. Hindi rin naman po ganun kadali na magsalita doon sa harap ng mga ating kagalang-galang na senator-judges, at sa harap din ng publiko,” Chua said.