Malacañang expressed hope on Tuesday for a fair and unbiased trial as the Senate prepares to receive the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, despite a recent leadership change that placed a prominent Duterte ally at the helm of the upper chamber.
The statement follows a dramatic shift in the Senate, where Senator Alan Peter Cayetano assumed the presidency less than 24 hours ago after the ouster of Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that the constitutional process now rests entirely with the senators.
“Sana kapag ito ay napunta na rin sa Senado ay maging patas ang mga manghuhusga, ang mga senador natin.”
The House of Representatives recently impeached the Vice President for the second consecutive year, citing a litany of charges including graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution.
Castro noted that the House’s decision likely stemmed from the weight of the evidence presented during the proceedings.
“Nakita malamang nila ang mga documents o ebidensya.”
While the Palace stopped short of explicitly demanding a conviction, Castro maintained that the administration remains committed to transparency and the rule of law.
“Dapat lamang po na magkaroon ng pagdinig, malaman ang katotohanan, hindi para husgahan agad ang sinuman.”
The trial’s integrity has come under intense scrutiny due to Cayetano’s deep political ties to the Duterte family, having served as Rodrigo Duterte’s running mate in 2016 and later as his Foreign Affairs Secretary.
Nevertheless, the Palace maintains that the executive branch will not interfere in the proceedings.
“Nasa Senado na po iyan.”
As the Senate prepares to transform into an impeachment court, Castro issued a final reminder that the public is watching how their representatives will handle the case.
“Kung papabor para sa taumbayan o papabor lang sa iisang tao, bahala na po ang taumbayan humusga.”