Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday advised his colleagues to first focus on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte rather than speculate who will replace her once convicted.
In an ambush interview, Gatchalian said there is so much still to be done on the impeachment trial since the defense panel has yet to present its case when the trial resumes on November 9, and talking about the possible replacement of Duterte is not timely.
“To be fair sa respondent, di pa na-present ng defense ang kanilang ebidensiya at testimony. So pakinggan muna natin bago tayo mag-isip ng next steps. Kasi mga next steps na yan. So, in my opinion, marami pang gagawin dito,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian said that the impeachment trial remains to be one of the biggest challenges faced by the Senate since he cannot say exactly when the defense panel will finish with its presentation.
“Tapusin muna natin yung impeachment before we talk about that,” Gatchalian added.
Gatchalian earlier said that the trial may end in November, but with the proposed national budget still on their plate, he thinks that the proceedings may cross to December.
“Yung impeachment proceedings, pinag-aaralan din namin mabuti — yung dates, yung times. In the next few days, budget season papasok na sa plenary. So lahat ito inaayos namin. So, naka concentrate muna kami sa process …Parang hindi na kaya ng November from the looks of it. So, I’m sure, tingin ko tatawid ito ng December,” Gatchalian also said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson branded as “foolish” a suggestion that senators commit to decline a possible appointment as vice president if Duterte is convicted and removed from office.
Lacson maintained that he is not interested in the vice presidency, but said he was prompted to address the suggestion to brush aside any impression that he is interested in the position.
“Somebody had the gall to suggest that my Senate colleagues should decline a Vice Presidential appointment from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. if the impeachment trial ends in conviction. While ‘no comment’ would be the most appropriate response to such nonsensical idea, silence might be misconstrued as interest in the position,” Lacson said in a post on X.
“Let me be clear. I have a mandate to fulfill until 2031, and the VP post is not under consideration,” Lacson added.
Cayetano earlier urged his fellow senator-judges to commit not to accept the vice presidency when Duterte is found guilty of the remaining article of impeachment.
Lacson cited a situation where Marcos might consider the appointment of Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid as Duterte’s replacement, asking whether Sen. Lapid must decline simply because he is a senator-judge, and calling that a foolish proposition.
Lacson said under Section 9, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution provides that the President must nominate a new Vice President from among the members of the Senate and House of Representatives in the event that the office of the Vice President becomes vacant.
“Cayetano should not meddle with the President’s prerogative to appoint, subject to the confirmation of Congress,” Lacson also said.
In a statement posted on his Facebook account, Cayetano said his fellow senator-judges should emulate Sen. Francis Escudero, who said he will refuse to be appointed Vice President if and when Duterte is removed from office.
“Nobody offered him (Escudero) the position. He could have kept quiet and left the possibility open. Instead, he gave the people a reason to trust that his vote would not be influenced by the prospect of becoming Vice President,” Cayetano said.
“I invited my fellow senator-judges to join me in making the same commitment. Everyone remains free to decide, I hope we can consider the concern behind the invitation before taking offense at being asked,” Cayetano added.
Cayetano said he agrees with Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito in saying that it was improper to discuss the outcome of the trial since the verdict remains uncertain.
“That was also my first reaction. We should not discuss a successor as though a conviction were already certain. But when should we make clear that we will put personal interests aside? Must we wait until we have voted or someone offers us the position?” Cayetano asked.
“We can keep an open mind about the evidence while deciding what we would be willing to accept afterward. Sen. Chiz’s commitment does not presume conviction. It assures the public that he will not accept the office his vote might help make vacant,” Cayetano also said.
Cayetano said it would be a different situation when someone is offered the position as he stood firm that the reason for declining matters.
“Someone may prefer his present job today, then feel differently once an offer becomes real and others begin encouraging his ambition,” Cayetano added.