Members of the House prosecution panel are urging law schools, communities, and civil society groups to organize "impeachment trial watch parties" once the Senate impeachment court begins hearing the case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Prosecution panel spokesperson, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co and public prosecutor, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno said such events would help Filipinos follow the proceedings and participate in public discussions on the high-stakes affair.

“Siguro puwede pong we hash out the finer details in the coming days. Pero ang inaasahan din natin may livestream ang Senate, may livestream ang House of Representatives,” Co said on Monday, June 8.

(Perhaps we can hash out the finer details in the coming days. But we also expect that the Senate will have a livestream, the House of Representatives will have a livestream.)

“Makikita din natin, I’m sure, ang mga media nakaantabay at blow-by-blow prepared na magbigay ng updates sa mamamayan. So inaasahan natin na engaged ang taong bayan,” she added.

(We will also see, I’m sure, the media on standby and prepared to give blow‑by‑blow updates to the public. So we expect the people to be engaged.)

Co said the watch parties and community discussions can deepen political participation by allowing people to study the articles of impeachment, understand the process and form their own critical view of the proceedings.

“in-encourage din natin ang lahat na magkaroon ng sariling livestreams. I’m sure meron ‘yan sa ating mga bahay, sa classrooms, pero magtipon din tayo sana para pag-usapan ‘yung issue."

(We also encourage everyone to have their own livestreams. I’m sure there will be some in our homes, in classrooms, but let us also gather to discuss the issue.)

“Beyond siyempre sa pagbasa ng updates at pagbasa ng interpretations, tayo mismo ay gumawa ng sarili nating kritikal na pagtanggap doon sa mga nangyayari,” Co added.

(Beyond simply reading updates and interpretations, we ourselves must make our own critical reception of what is happening.)

Diokno backed the proposal and called on law schools and other educational institutions to organize their own impeachment trial watch activities to help explain the process to students and the public.

“Maidagdag ko lang po, may ilang initiatives ang some school and civil society groups na bantayan ‘yung mangyayaring paglilitis. At ako’y nananawagan at nagsusuggest din lalong lalo na sa mga law schools at iba’t ibang mga paaralan na maganda siguro kung magkaroon din tayo ng mga watch parties para mapaliwanagan tayo at maintindihan natin ang proseso,” Diokno said.

(I would also add that some schools and civil society groups have initiatives to monitor the trial. And I call on and suggest especially to law schools and other schools that it would be good to have watch parties so we can be enlightened and understand the process.)

The senator-judges are scheduled to begin the trial against the twice-impeached Duterte on July 6.

Co described the trial as a matter of generational responsibility because young Filipinos will inherit the future shaped by today’s public accountability processes.

“Ang maayos na paglilitis, ang pagtuloy-tuloy na mga hakbang ng trial at ang pag-ensure nating lahat nito ay investment sa lahat ng kabataan. Kung makikita natin ang proseso ng pananagutan ay magtutuloy-tuloy at ang mananagot ay dapat managot, ang katotohanan ay lumabas, ang benepisyo po dito ay ang magmamana ng kinabukasan,” she explained.

(A proper trial, the continuous steps of the proceedings, and ensuring all of this is an investment in all the youth. If we see the process of accountability continue, that those responsible are held accountable, and the truth comes out, the benefit here is what the future generations will inherit.)

Co said the youth will continue to push for the widest possible participation in the proceedings so that the trial becomes not only a Senate process but a public lesson in accountability.

“Handa po ang kabataan na gawin ang lahat ng makakaya para ang mga proseso na ito ay magtuloy-tuloy, maisayos at maisama ang pinakamarami. Kaya po ang panawagan nating muli, start the trial forthwith, makuha na ‘yung sagot hindi lang ni VP Sara pero yung katotohanan dito sa mga nangyayaring issues sa bansa natin,” said the militant congresswoman.

(The youth are ready to do everything they can so that these processes continue, are organized, and include as many as possible. That is why our call once again is to start the trial forthwith, to get the answers not only from VP Sara but also the truth about the issues happening in our country.)