Cebuano views differ

CEBU, Philippines - The impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona in the House of Representatives and its impending trial before the Senate has been in the limelight since last year, but still, some of the Cebuanos know nothing about it because they are too busy to care about reading the news or listening to it.

There were some who knew about it but could not understand what it is all about to impeach the chief justice because of language barrier.

Mark Tecson, a fourth year nursing student, said he does not know about the impending impeachment trial of Corona.

“Sorry, but I’m too busy with school. I don’t have enough time even to watch the news,” Tecson said when asked what his reaction was on the impeachment of Corona.

When asked about his understanding of impeachment, Tecson said it is probably like what happened to former president Joseph Estrada.

Unlike Tecson, Jessie dela Torre, 58, a street vendor, said he is aware of the impeachment case against Corona.

“Kahibaw ko ana kay mobasa man ko’g tabloid,” he said.

Dela Torre said he also would want to follow the trial which is scheduled to start on Monday. But he is confronted with a problem of understanding the process because of “language barrier.”

“Gusto ko mo sunod pero mao lagi, di lang gyud ko ka sabot sa ilang mga pulong,” dela Torre said.

Dela Torre added that Corona should already resign if he is guilty of the charges.

For street vendor Diosdado Cartaje, he does not care what is happening in the Supreme Court because it is more important for him to earn a living for his family.

“Kapoy na paminaw anang kagubot sa Supreme Court. Mas  i-una namo ang among panginabuhian,” Cartaje said.

For second year law student, Chito, the impeachment trial will be a good learning experience for them to watch. Chito said he is already excited to observe how the senator-judges would question the chief magistrate.

Taxi driver John Michael Talser said he will also follow the trial in the Senate. He however wishes that the congressmen tasked to prosecute Corona are not only apt for grandstanding.

“Sama sa ubang mga hearing sa Senado nga kasagaran pasikat lang gyud na sila. Maayo unta nga kanang impeachment trial ni Corona tinud-anay na kay naay daghan nganha sa Senado nga magpasikat ra gyud,” waiter Alvin Arman Daron shared.

The other respondents of the face-to-face survey conducted by The FREEMAN on how aware the Cebuanos are of the impending impeachment and their understanding of the process admitted that they do not know about it.

Impeachment is a constitutional process of removing an impeachable official from office because of charges of graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

The impeachable officials include the president, vice president, justices and officials of Constitutional bodies.

Former Senator Ernesto Maceda, who was in Cebu yesterday, said the public should watch the Corona impeachment trial  because this is very important process to determine the independence of the Supreme Court and how Malacañang can control the entire government.  (FREEMAN)