MANILA – The Senate minority bloc will continue participating in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte despite its opposition to the impeachment court’s decision to lower the threshold for conviction.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said the minority has no plans to boycott or skip the proceedings, stressing that participating in the impeachment court is part of their constitutional duty.
“So far wala naman kaming indication na hindi mag-a-attend. It's our constitutional duty, to be part of the impeachment court at fairness ay napaka importante,” Cayetano said.
The Senate impeachment court earlier voted to lower the threshold needed to convict Duterte, a move the minority opposed.
Cayetano said the issue should have been left to the Supreme Court, particularly since the ruling could affect other Senate proceedings.
“Kung tatanungin niyo kung nagluluksa pa kami, siyempre kasi we really feel that, kung may reinterpretation 'no, dapat ang Supreme Court and we think apektado ang fairness pagka sa gitna ng trial,” he said.
“Having said that naman, there's a process 'di ba? So, so far wala pa namang pag-uusap na hindi magpaparticipate.”
Cayetano welcomed the filing of petitions before the Supreme Court challenging the impeachment court’s ruling, saying an early decision would help settle the issue.
“Expected naman ‘yun. The earlier that the Supreme Court decides, better kasi ‘yung numbers na 'yan ay applicable sa marami ha, sa quorum ng Senado, sa pagpasa ng treaties, sa charter change sa pagdidisiplina ng membro ng Senado,” he said.
Cayetano said it may be preferable for the Supreme Court to resolve the issue while the impeachment trial is ongoing rather than after a verdict has been reached.
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“Baka yun yung blessing na ngayon instead of sa end of the trial. So kung tatanungin mo ako, the best pa rin 'yan, pinag-usapan na 'yan noon sa rules pa lang. And then the second best is sa Supreme Court na, 'di ba?” he said.
He also pointed to the uncertainty that could arise if the threshold is questioned only after senators have already voted on Duterte’s case.
“Pero having said that, if there's any silver lining is that, kasi can you imagine kung may verdict na tapos ang boto mo—walang problema kung boto mo sixteen, seventeen pataas, 'di ba? Pero kung ang boto mo fifteen and fourteen, ah, convicted ba yun o hindi? So that's the reality there,” Cayetano said.
VILLAR REMAINS WITH MINORITY
Cayetano also clarified that Senator Mark Villar remains a member of the Senate minority despite joining the majority in voting to lower the impeachment conviction threshold.
“Ay, he's staying with the minority,” Cayetano said.
Impeachment court lowers conviction threshold in Sara Duterte trial
He said, however, that the minority-majority distinction does not apply when senators sit as members of the impeachment court.
“But walang minority-majority pagdating sa impeachment court. So, kung, kung meron mang tanungan, more of kapaan pero wala kaming parang, ‘Oh, anong boto natin dito sama.’ Minsan may tanong lang, ‘Anong tingin mo sa legal na 'to? Tama ba 'to?’” he said.
Cayetano said the minority members have no animosity toward one another despite differences in their positions.
“Eh, working at, ah, wala namang animosity ang, ah, pitong nandito sa minority. Of course, we long na mabuo pa rin yung eleven but yun nga, ah, four of our colleagues are facing different challenges,” he said.
LEGARDA'S RETURN
Meanwhile, Cayetano said he has not spoken recently with Senator Loren Legarda, who is on extended medical leave overseas.
“I haven't talked to her in the recent time. She talks to many people, but–and I've talked to her when I was in Singapore kasi nakita pa rin niya ata ‘yung intrigang bakit ako nandun,” he said.
“But I haven't talked to her since then, so I don't really know. I, it's also news to me kanina na eager to come back. So I don't know if eagerness lang ‘yun or may plan talaga. Depende din sa kaniyang medical leave,” Cayetano said.
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