SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(0:00) Before we ask the Majority Leader and Senator Marcoleta their pleasure, may I request from the members. I told the Minority Leader, the former Senate President, that this is an emotional issue, not only for us but for the whole country, given this is the Senate of the Philippines. And it’s a sensitive issue because there are words that have been used. That’s why I have tried to be deliberate, wait not only for a partial investigation but independent, wait for every investigation to come in.
(0:37) Now many members of the majority who were here want to speak on that measure. Having said that, number one, we have athletes here, and I don’t want to keep them here the whole day. Number two, I was about to report this, as Senate President, I respectfully informed the body, that earlier today, 20 May 2026, the summons in relation to the articles of impeachment filed against VP Sara Duterte was duly served upon Respondent Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
(1:11) A copy of the summons was likewise furnished to the prosecution panel on the same date. Under the applicable rules, Respondent is given ten calendar days from service of summons within which to file her answer, and counting ten calendar days from 20 May 2026. The last day would ordinarily fall on Saturday, 30 May 2026. However, since the last day falls on the Saturday, the period shall not run until the next working day. Accordingly, the deadline for Respondent to file her answer is on Monday, 01 June 2026. Furthermore, upon the prosecution panel’s receipt of the Respondent’s answer, the prosecution shall have five calendar days from receipt within which to reply if they opt to do so. The deadline for the reply shall be computed from the day the prosecution actually receives the answer.
(2:06) I say this because we have to discuss the impeachment calendar, and the staff is ready to brief us. And if we can give this priority because we have to discuss it vis-a-vis the legislative calendar, vis-a-vis the committee hearings and the session. So if we are going to all stand today like Senator Tulfo and Senator Risa, we won’t finish by midnight tonight because at least three or four senators from, eight senators from the majority wants to speak on the matter. There might be, if not, those who want to speak in the minority, those who want to ask questions or interpolate.
(2:56) So may I ask, as your Senate President, magbigayan tayo today, and if you want to put a lot of time on that on Monday, we can fully discuss. I’ve received some requests for CCTV footage. We gave it right away to PNP. We will give it to you if you request it. We’re also requesting CCTV footages from anyone who took it, including from the media, so that we can discuss it very intelligently with, I think, 24 senators committing that this is an important issue and we will give it the much-needed attention. But let’s do it with prudence, deliberately. We’re dealing with our democracy here.
(3:42) We’re dealing with law enforcement agencies, AFP, PNP, NBI, with branches of government, the executive and the legislative. So I know we all want to speak on it today, but may we include in the caucus what committee to give this to? I think the Senate President will, before we go on suspension, want to put on record his recommendation. But if I may ask him that the actual decision, given that there are other people with other ideas, we discuss it.
(4:23) I don’t think it’s a matter that you and I should discuss, but all of us. So let me ask first Senator Marcoleta, would you, may I ask you if we can make a statement rather than interpolate today? Senator Risa, if anyone wants to interpolate, they can do it on Monday. Senator Riza answered in the affirmative.
