Rep. Raymond Palatino explains the role of the youth in the impeachment process

MANILA, Philippines — Asboth defense and prosecut ion teams sre expected to lock horns in the impeachment trial, the Kabataan Party-list launched last Monday a youth-led impeachment watchdog alliance called “i-monitor.”

Created with the participation of law student members of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) and the Department of Social Sciences of the University of the Philippines in Manila, i-monitor pushes to bring to justice former President Gloria Arroyo and her reported allies, including Chief Justice Renato Corona, even as it remains vigilant to oppose Palace moves to install an “Aquino Supreme Court.”

“The i -monitor alliance, composed of youth, students, professionals, concerned citizens and groups, is par t of yout h initiatives to ensure that social justice will prevail during and after the impeachment proceedings. The fate of our country cannot be left in the hands of the contending powers that be,” Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino said.

“The youth and people must take an active role in bringing Arroyo and her cohorts, including Corona, to justice while exercising extreme vigilance to counter any maneuver from Malacañang to install an Aquino Supreme Court,” he added.

Palatino, who was among the 188 House members who signed the impeachment case, said that the responsibility to take part in the impeachment trial is heavily upon the youth and people since it is ultimately their welfare that is at stake.

“We have to challenge the idea that only those immediately involved in impeachment trial have the power and right to direct the course and outcome of the proceedings. We may not have the battery of lawyers and legal experts from both the defense and prosecuting teams, but we have the mass movement which we shall rely on and activate in pursuance of genuine social justice. The situation is excellent for an intensified people’s action amidst the chaos among the ruling elite,” Palatino said.

CAMPAIGN CALL

Terry Ridon, convenor of i-monitor and graduate of UP Law school, for his part, said that among the actions the alliance shall take are monitoring of the impeachment trial and reporting t o s cho o l s , workplaces and communities of pertinent updates; arranging of audience trips in the Senate; organizing of forums and discussions; popularization of the campaign call “Arroyo at Corona, panagutin! Aquino, singilin!” in various platforms including social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter; and holding of mass actions to incite public awareness and participation.

Victor Vi l lanueva, another member of the alliance and officer of the law student council of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), said that the alliance will also call on law and non-law students alike to extend focus beyond the rules of court and put premium on social justice and common good.

“The impeachment should not make us forget that the youth and people – the commons – are the ultimate shapers of our country’s future,” Villanueva said.

The launching of i-monitor, hosted by the UP Manila Department of Social Sciences, gathered about 300 participants and members. Palatino said that the membership will further increase in the progression of the impeachment trial.

Among the current members of i-monitor are students, including those taking up law, from UP, UST, Ateneo, San Beda, Polytechnic Universi ty of the Phi l ippines, Philippine Normal University, and Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST). The alliance will also be partnered with the Association of Law Students of the Philippines (ALSP) and other national organizations such as the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), League of Filipino Students (LFS), Anakbayan, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines and Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan.