As both defense and prosecution teams are expected to lock horns on the first day of the impeachment trial in the Senate today, Kabataan Party-list, with 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, simultaneously launched today a youth-led impeachment watchdog alliance called “#i-monitor” to push for bringing Arroyo and her cohorts, including Corona, to justice as it remains vigilant to oppose Palace moves to install an “Aquino Supreme Court.”

“The #i-monitor alliance, composed of youths, students, professionals, concerned citizens and groups, is part of youth 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, 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.

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 to schools, 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 Villanueva, another member of the alliance and officer of the law student council of UST, said on the other hand 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.

“We must not be confined within the impeachment process and take it as the final horizon in seeking social justice. After all, it is not the court or law but the youth and the people—the commons—that are the true shapers of our country’s future,” Villanueva said.

The launching of #i-monitor today hosted by the UP Manila Department of Social Sciences gathered more than 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 the UP, UST, Ateneo, San Beda, PUP, PNU, and 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 (Karatula). ###