Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano Against Sen. Chiz Escudero’s Election as Impeachment Presiding Officer
ALAN PETER CAYETANO – The Senate Minority Leader spoke on the election of the presiding officer in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte began today, July 6. All senators were present except for senators Jinggoy Estrada, Rodante Marcoleta, and Bato dela Rosa. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was arrested at the Sandiganbayan for the plunder case filed against him today after the Court junked his motion to quash.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was arrested for plunder as well a few weeks ago but due to a different case — his alleged involvement in the flood control corruption issue. As for Sen. Bato dela Rosa, he has gone into ‘hiding’ again after his supposed ‘escape’ during an alleged ‘fake firing’ incident inside the Senate.
The said firing incident took place while the chamber was under the lead of then-Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano. He claimed that the Senate was “under attack”. The incident happened shortly after Sen. Bato dela Rosa appeared in the chamber again after six months of absence and joined the vote for a change of leadership.
The historic absence of the then-majority bloc which led to another change of leadership in the chamber also took place under the watch of former Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano. On the first three (3) days of June, the Senate session was halted twice as the then-majority bloc skipped the session schedule in protection of the committee chairmanships.
On the third day of the absence of most of the then-majority bloc members, Sen. Chiz Escudero appeared at the session that led to a quorum of 12 senators. Escudero’s move to join the new Senate majority earned him both criticisms and praises.
Today, Sen. Chiz Escudero was elected as the presiding officer of the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The minority bloc is against it as they believe that the role should be for Senate Pres. Sherwin Gatchalian. Based on Inquire, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano stressed that the move is allegedly unconstitutional.
Twelve senators of the majority bloc voted for Sen. Chiz Escudero to be the presiding officer of the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Eight senators from the minority bloc including Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano voted against the election of Escudero as the presiding officer.
“Hindi po fair kung pipillin natin ang [impeachment presiding officer]. Kahit ako ang piliin niyo, hindi ko tatanggapin ‘yon kasi mali po ‘yon. Hindi po ‘yon ang nakasulat sa Constitution,” Cayetano said based on the post.
Amid the impeachment trial, Cayetano also pushed for the participation of senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta in the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.