Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta stated on Thursday that he is not making any individual preparations for the potential impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, even as the House of Representatives moves closer to formalizing the case.
Marcoleta, a vocal ally of the Vice President, indicated that his approach to the proceedings is to wait for the official transmission of the articles of impeachment rather than speculating on the outcome.
“Hindi naman ako nag-pe-prepare eh,” Marcoleta said when asked about his readiness for the trial.
The senator emphasized his preference for a reactive stance, noting that he would address the situation as it unfolds.
“Ganun ako eh. Basta kung ano ang dumating, darating,” he told reporters during an ambush interview.
The lawmaker’s public support for the Vice President has not gone unnoticed by his colleagues.
In a separate radio interview, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson quipped that Marcoleta’s leanings are so apparent that he might be better suited for the defense bench than the jury.
“Baka sabihin na lang namin, ‘Doon ka na lang maupo (sa defense),” Lacson joked.
The exchange follows the House Committee on Justice’s Wednesday ruling, which found probable cause in two separate impeachment complaints against Duterte. The findings came after a series of four hearings investigating various allegations against the country’s second-highest official.
If at least one-third of the House of Representatives votes to approve the committee’s report, the case will be transmitted to the Senate, which will then transform into an impeachment court.