Senator Alan Peter Cayetano urged impartiality in handling the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasizing that the Senate must uphold justice, fairness, and neutrality as the impeachment court.
In a March 26 interview, Cayetano stressed the importance of senators taking an oath as judges in the impeachment trial, committing to follow the Constitution and remain neutral.
“Mag-oath ka ulit as a senator-judge, at ang oath mo roon ay to follow the Constitution and to obey the laws, which includes neutrality,” he said. “Totoong it’s a political process, but it’s not a political process in the sense na walang element of justice and fairness. The neutrality is still there.”
The senator from Taguig advised the media not to pressure senators into taking a stance too early.
“Once na judge ka, hindi ka [dapat] magbigay ng opinion. I’d advise against asking them [other senators] if they’re for or against the impeachment,” according to him.
While acknowledging concerns about the process, Cayetano clarified that once the House transmits the impeachment case, the Senate has no choice but to conduct the trial.
He also raised concerns about the impeachment’s timing, suggesting it should not distract from more urgent national issues, such as the collapsed Isabela bridge and a DepEd report on a private school allegedly billing the government for “ghost” students.
“Yes may concerns ang prosecution, but those concerns can be addressed by them to preserve the evidence. Kaya nila yan. So to start [the impeachment] in June or July would not cause any irreparable damage. But it will help the nation take these issues in stride,” said Cayetano.IMT
