Cayetano: Rushed trial could mislead next generation’s view of justice
Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday warned against rushing the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the expense of fairness, stressing that the Senate’s handling of the proceedings will shape what the next generation learns about justice, democracy and due process.
On the 39th day of the trial on October 13, 2026, Cayetano said the Senate must ensure that its proceedings uphold democratic principles regardless of the public’s reaction to the eventual outcome.
“Whatever the judgement, it has to be acceptable by the Filipino people. Just because there is no coup d’etat or people power, that doesn’t mean na tama y’ung tinatanim natin sa mga kabataan ngayon,” he said.
His remarks came after Lead Prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro announced the withdrawal of three of the four impeachment articles, with the prosecution focusing on Article II covering unexplained wealth, false SALNs, and continued business interests.
Luistro said the decision followed a careful assessment of what was best for the Impeachment Court, stressing that the prosecution did not intend to waste court resources. She said they also considered the Senate’s legislative workload, particularly the passage of the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Lead Defense Counsel Atty. Sheila Sison, however, insisted that the defense must be allowed to challenge the evidence that had already presented.
Addressing the matter directly, Cayetano cautioned against rushing the trial to meet a deadline, saying the Constitution does not impose a time limit on the proceedings.
“We have to finish this impeachment process with the basic element of fairness and justice. Kahit ano’ng mangyari dito, may matutuwa, may magagalit, but history will judge us whether or not we upheld elementary fairness and due process,” he said.
Cayetano said it is the Senate’s duty to weigh the time, government resources, and public attention devoted to the impeachment proceedings against its other responsibilities.
He said the Senate’s responsibility goes beyond reaching a verdict, requiring lawmakers to consider how their decisions will be viewed in the years to come.
“We have to do what has to be done. We have to be in the moment and there are certain things we believe have to be done. I don’t want to look back 10 years from now and say that ‘just so matapos natin ito [impeachment trial] by November’ kasi marami nang issues. Dadagdagan pa ba natin ito with that?” he said.
Filipino Version
Cayetano: Huwag madaliin ang impeachment trial
Nagbabala si Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano na hindi dapat isakripisyo ang pagiging patas sa pagmamadaling tapusin ang impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Aniya, maaari itong makaaapekto sa pag-unawa ng susunod na henerasyon tungkol sa hustisya at demokrasya.
Sa ika-39 na araw ng paglilitis nitong October 13, 2026, iginiit ni Cayetano na kailangang tiyakin ng Senado na nasusunod ang mga democratic principle sa buong proseso, anuman ang maging resulta ng kaso at reaksyon ng publiko.
“Whatever the judgement, it has to be acceptable by the Filipino people. Just because there is no coup d’etat or people power, that doesn’t mean na tama y’ung tinatanim natin sa mga kabataan ngayon,” sabi niya.
Ang pahayag ni Cayetano ay kasunod ng anunsyo ni Lead Prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro na binabawi ng prosekusyon ang tatlo sa apat na articles of impeachment at magtutuon na lamang sa Article II na tumatalakay sa unexplained wealth, mga maling deklarasyon sa Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth o SALN, at patuloy na interes sa negosyo.
Ayon kay Luistro, nagpasya ang prosekusyon matapos maingat na suriin kung ano ang pinakamainam para sa Impeachment Court. Binigyang diin niyang hindi nila layuning aksayahin ang mga resources ng hukuman. Isinaalang-alang din aniya nila ang mga legislative duties ng Senado, partikular ang pagpasa sa General Appropriations Act (GAA) o national budget.
Gayunman, iginiit ni Lead Defense Counsel Atty. Sheila Sison na dapat pa ring mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang depensa na kuwestiyunin ang mga ebidensyang naiharap na sa paglilitis.
Bilang tugon, nagbabala si Cayetano laban sa pagmamadali sa paglilitis para lamang maabot ang itinakdang deadline. Aniya, walang itinatakdang limitasyon sa panahon ng impeachment proceedings ang Konstitusyon.
“We have to finish this impeachment process with the basic element of fairness and justice. Kahit ano’ng mangyari dito, may matutuwa, may magagalit, but history will judge us whether or not we upheld elementary fairness and due process,” aniya.
Binigyang diin din ni Cayetano ang Senado ang may tungkuliln na timbangin ang panahong ginugugol, mga gastusin ng pamahalaan, at atensyon ng publiko sa impeachment proceedings kaugnay ng iba pa nitong mga responsibilidad.
Sinabi niyang hindi lamang ang paglalabas ng hatol ang dapat isaalang-alang ng mga senador. Kailangan din nilang pag-isipan kung paano huhusgahan ng kasaysayan ang kanilang mga naging desisyon, lalo na kung ang pagtatapos ng paglilitis ang magiging pangunahing batayan ng kanilang mga hakbang.
“We have to do what has to be done. We have to be in the moment and there are certain things we believe have to be done. I don’t want to look back 10 years from now and say that ‘just so matapos natin ito [impeachment trial] by November’ kasi marami nang issues. Dadagdagan pa ba natin ito with that?” wika ng senador.
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