Cayetano seeks to build public trust in impeachment trial, supports evidence-based verdict
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday sought to strengthen public trust in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial as he stood by his invitation for all senator-judges to publicly reject any personal political gain from its outcome.
In an October 27 Facebook post, Cayetano said Filipinos deserve assurance that personal interests will not influence those deciding the case.
“Whatever their (Filipinos) views on the Vice President, they deserve to know that those judging her case have put personal advantage aside,” he wrote.
“Everyone wants justice, but we cannot excuse an unfair process simply because it produces the result we want,” he added.
The Minority Leader’s statement follows his earlier appeal to his colleagues, including himself, to follow Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who declared that he would refuse the vice presidency if Duterte were convicted and removed because accepting it after helping decide her fate would present a conflict of interest.
Responding to concerns that such a declaration is premature while the trial remained ongoing, Cayetano emphasized that publicly rejecting the vice presidency does not prevent a senator-judge from weighing the evidence with an open mind and reaching a fair verdict based on it.
“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?” he said.
“We can keep an open mind about the evidence while deciding what we would be willing to accept afterward,” he added.
Cayetano explained that declarations such as that of Escudero gives the public a reason to trust that his judgment would not be influenced by a possible political opportunity.
“Nobody had offered him the position. He could have kept quiet and left the possibility open. Instead, he gave people a reason to trust that his vote would not be influenced by the prospect of becoming Vice President,” he said.
The Minority Leader, nevertheless, noted that his invitation remained voluntary, appealing for a calm discussion of the concern behind it.
“Everyone remains free to decide. I hope we can consider the concern behind the invitation before taking offense at being asked,” he said.
“People learn who we are from those choices. When we keep our word even at a cost to ourselves, we give them a reason to trust us,” he added.
With the trial set to resume on November 8, Cayetano prayed for wisdom for all senator-judges as they hear both sides, weigh the evidence, and strive to follow the Constitution.
“May God give us the wisdom and humility to do so honestly, especially when doing what is right means giving up something we might otherwise want,” he said.
Filipino Version
Cayetano nais patatagin ang tiwala ng publiko sa impeachment trial, suportado ang desisyong batay sa ebidensya
Binigyang diin ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano ang importansya ng tiwala ng publiko sa impeachment trial nang pinanindigan niya nitong Martes ang panawagan sa lahat ng senator-judge na hayagang tanggihan ang anumang personal na pakinabang mula sa magiging resulta ng paglilitis.
Sa kanyang Facebook post nitong October 27, iginiit ni Cayetano na karapatan ng mga Pilipinong malaman na isinasantabi ng mga senator-judge ang kanilang personal na interes sa paglilitis at tanging sa ebidensya lang ibabase ang kanilang magiging hatol.
“Whatever their (Filipinos) views on the Vice President, they deserve to know that those judging her case have put personal advantage aside,” aniya.
“Everyone wants justice, but we cannot excuse an unfair process simply because it produces the result we want,” dagdag niya.
Nitong Lunes, inanyayahan ni Cayetano ang mga kapwa senator-judge, kabilang ang sarili, na tularan ang ginawa ni Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero na pagdeklara ng pagtanggi niya sa pagka-bise presidente sakaling mapatalsik si Duterte. Para kasi kay Escudero, conflict of interest ang tanggapin ang puwestong nabakante dahil sa desisyong nabuo nang kasama siya.
Pero para sa ilang senador, masyado raw maaga ang ganitong deklarasyon dahil hindi pa tapos ang paglilitis.
Sagot ni Cayetano, mainam nga na bago dumating ang panahon na alukin ang sinuman sa kanila ng nasabing posisyon ay maliwanag na sa publiko na hindi nila tatanggapin ito.
Dagdag niya, hindi naman magiging dahilan ang pagtanggi ng isang senator-judge sa pansariling interes para hindi ito makabuo ng paghatol na nakabase lamang sa ebidensya.
“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?” tanong niya.
“We can keep an open mind about the evidence while deciding what we would be willing to accept afterward,” dagdag niya.
Katunayan, ang naunang deklarasyon aniya ni Escudero ay nagbibigay pa nga ng dahilan sa publiko na magtiwalang hindi siya hahatol laban kay Duterte para lang makuha ang puwesto nito.
“Nobody had offered him the position. He could have kept quiet and left the possibility open. Instead, he gave people a reason to trust that his vote would not be influenced by the prospect of becoming Vice President,” aniya.
Bagama’t sinabi ni Cayetano na walang pilitan sa kanyang paanyaya, hiniling niya na ikonsidera ng mga kasamahan sa Senado ang magandang dahilan sa likod nito.
“Everyone remains free to decide. I hope we can consider the concern behind the invitation before taking offense at being asked,” aniya.
“People learn who we are from those choices. When we keep our word even at a cost to ourselves, we give them a reason to trust us,” diin niya.
Ngayong pansamantalang nakatigil ang paglilitis hanggang sa unang linggo ng Nobyembre, nanalangin si Cayetano ng karunungan para sa senator-judges sa pagtupad nila sa tungkuling mapakinggan ang magkabilang panig, matimbang ang mga ebidensya, at maging tapat sa Konstitusyon.
“May God give us the wisdom and humility to do so honestly, especially when doing what is right means giving up something we might otherwise want,” aniya.
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