A senator urged the government not to allow the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to consume the country’s full attention, warning that other pressing national concerns must also be addressed.
In a Facebook livestream ahead of the July 6 proceedings, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said the impeachment trial should proceed in an orderly, fair, and impartial manner. However, he stressed that investigations into flood control corruption, economic problems, disaster preparedness, and other public concerns should continue alongside it.
“Yung imbestigasyon sa flood control, sa mga pang-aapi sa ating mga kababayan, puwedeng ituloy-tuloy po lahat ‘yan. We cannot stop. Hindi y’ung one-issue nation tayo,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano questioned why the Senate could prepare a 30-week working schedule for the impeachment trial but could not set hearings for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the unresolved billion-peso flood control controversy.
“Ulitin ko po: tama, yung isaayos natin ang impeachment [schedule]. Tama na nagkaroon ng pre-trial. Tama na, lahat tayo maging impartial. Bakit, hindi ba tayo puwedeng maging impartial din sa flood control? At napakarami pang ibang corruption issues,” he said.
He said the Senate has the capacity to handle the impeachment proceedings while also investigating alleged irregularities in flood control projects, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) programs, and other corruption issues across government agencies.
“Puwede naman po nating isabay na magkaroon ng imbestigasyon sa flood control, sa iba pang DPWH projects, sa iba pang corruption sa ating bansa, maging anong ahensya man ‘yan,” Cayetano said.
The minority leader also warned of what he described as a “creeping economic crisis,” citing small businesses that are struggling with weaker income, higher operating costs, and softer consumer demand.
“Maraming small businesses ngayon, 20-30 percent ang niliit ng kita, in danger na masara. Tumaas nga sweldo [sa NCR], nagsara naman [ang mga negosyo],” he said.
Cayetano noted that the approved P85 minimum wage increase in Metro Manila comes as businesses continue to face pressure from high prices and a slower economy. Inflation remained elevated at 6.8 percent in May, while household consumption and investment growth both slowed to 3.3 percent.
“Dahil ang focus ng gobyerno ay nasa impeachment at wala du’n sa anti-flood control corruption, wala du’n sa ekonomiya, mukhang creeping na palaki itong economic crisis na huwag naman sana,” he said.
He added that the government must also remain prepared for disasters, including storms, the possible effects of a severe El Niño, flooding, and volcanic activity.
Citing warnings from state agencies, Cayetano said prolonged weather disruptions could affect food production, including rice output, and worsen the burden on consumers and vulnerable communities.
Amid the impeachment trial and other national concerns, Cayetano called on the public to remain focused on the broader issues of constitutional duty, truth, accountability, and corruption.
“Ipaglaban natin ang Constitution ng ating bansa. Ipaglaban po natin ang katotohanan. Let’s not fight each other – let’s fight corruption,” he said.