Malacañang on Tuesday stressed the need for fairness and due process in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, while maintaining that the executive would not interfere in matters concerning the Senate.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration respects the legislative’s independence following the election of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate leader.
“Well, everything that happens in the Senate is within their power, it is within their authority to decide on all matters within the Senate,” Castro said when asked whether Malacañang was concerned over the timing of the Senate leadership changes amid Duterte’s impeachment proceedings.
“So, hindi po panghihimasukan ng Pangulo iyong anuman po ang magiging desisyon ng Senado (The President will not interfere to the decision of the Senate),” she added.
Cayetano assumed the Senate presidency on Monday afternoon after the ouster of Senator Vicente Sotto III, just as the House of Representatives voted to impeach Duterte for the second straight year over allegations that include culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery and other high crimes.
Castro said lawmakers in the House likely based their decision on evidence and documents presented before them.
“Nagdesisyon po ang House of Representatives. Nakita malamang nila ang mga ebidensya (The House of Representatives have decided. They might have seen the evidence),” she said.
“Sana kapag ito ay napunta na rin sa Senado ay maging patas ang mga manghuhusga, ang mga senador natin (We’re hoping that once it reaches the Senate, the senators will be fair).”
She emphasized that any decision on whether and how the impeachment trial proceeds now rests with the Senate.
“Nasa Senado na po iyan, nasa kamay na po iyan ng Senado (It’s up to the Senate now),” Castro said.
“Kung anuman ang gagawin nila diyan ay kung papabor para sa taumbayan o papabor lang sa iisang tao, bahala na po ang taumbayan humusga (Whatever they decide to do be it in favor of the people or on individual, the public will be judge).”
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Tuesday asked the Senate to convene as an impeachment court and to immediately start Duterte’s trial.
CBCP President Archbishop Gilbert Garcera said Senate members should conduct the impeachment trial without delays.
“We urge the senators to avoid any act that may be perceived as evading their sworn duty or circumventing the requirements of the constitution. We make this urgent appeal to not delay the trial and to convene the Senate as an impeachment court at the soonest possible time,” he said in a statement.
“To delay the trial is to delay justice for both the Filipino people and the Vice President.”
He also asked the Filipino faithful to do their share by closely monitoring the impeachment trial.
“To our fellow Filipinos, let us fulfill our civic duties and responsibilities by ensuring a fair and credible trial so that all may see and hear clear, verified evidence and arguments. We must remain vigilant in monitoring the proceedings,” the Lipa archbishop said.
On Monday, the House of Representatives, with a vote of 257-25 with nine abstentions, ruled to impeach the second highest official in the country.
The four Articles of Impeachment accused the Vice President of misuse or abuse of confidential funds; having unexplained wealth; bribery and graft and corruption; and threatening to assassinate President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez. (With Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)