Cayetano calls for clear commitments to political neutrality in impeachment
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday called for clear commitments to political neutrality among senator-judges, stressing that evidence proving the charges should be their only incentive to convict an impeached official.
In an October 26 Facebook post, Cayetano emphasized that impartiality must guide all impeachment proceedings, particularly those involving Presidents and Vice Presidents.
“It’s essential that in all impeachment proceedings (especially of Presidents and Vice Presidents), Senator-Judges are politically neutral and will have no incentive to convict except for evidence that proves the article/s of impeachment,” he said.
Cayetano made the statement after Senator-Judge Francis Escudero said he would refuse the vice presidency if Vice President Sara Duterte were convicted, citing a conflict of interest because he would have participated in the decision that left the position vacant.
Supporting the declaration, Cayetano urged every senator-judge, including himself, to make the same commitment.
“Tama po ito! All of us Senator-Judges should make this declaration,” he said.
He stressed that senator-judges should have no personal political incentive to convict, with their judgment resting on evidence establishing the charges.
He also prayed for wisdom and discernment for the Senate as its members fulfill their duties despite differences of opinion.
“May GOD always give the Senate wisdom and good discernment despite differences of opinion among its members, so that we may serve YOU, LORD GOD, and YOUR people, the Filipino people, well,” he said.
The Senate’s impeachment rules require senator-judges to observe political neutrality, which is defined as performing their duties without unfair discrimination and regardless of party affiliation or preference.
The Supreme Court has likewise emphasized the need for impeachment proceedings to observe constitutional safeguards, due process, and rules on evidence.
The trial now focuses on Article II, which accuses Duterte of unexplained wealth and failure to fully declare assets and divest business interests, after prosecutors withdrew the three other impeachment articles earlier this month.
Filipino Version
Cayetano nanawagan ng hayagang paninindigan para sa ‘political neutrality’ ng lahat ng senator-judge
Nanawagan si Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Lunes sa mga senator-judge na malinaw na ipahayag ang kanilang “political neutrality”, sabay diin na tanging matibay na ebidensya lamang dapat at hindi pansariling interes ang magtutulak sa kanila na hatulan ang sinumang impeachable official.
Sa kaniyang Facebook post nitong October 26, binigyang diin ni Cayetano na dapat manaig ang pagiging patas sa anumang impeachment proceedings, lalo na sa mga kasong kinasasangkutan ng pinakamamataas na opisyal ng bansa.
“It’s essential that in all impeachment proceedings (especially of Presidents and Vice Presidents), Senator-Judges are politically neutral and will have no incentive to convict except for evidence that proves the article/s of impeachment,” pahayag niya.
Sinabi ito ni Cayetano kasunod ng pahayag ni Senator-Judge Francis Escudero na tatanggihan niya ang posisyon ng bise presidente kung mahatulan si Vice President Sara Duterte, dahil magiging conflict of interest aniya ang pagtanggap sa puwestong nabakante dahil sa desisyong nilahukan niya.
Sinuportahan ni Cayetano ang deklarasyon ng kapwa senador at hinimok ang bawat senator-judge, kabilang ang kaniyang sarili, na gawin ang parehong pangako.
“Tama po ito! All of us Senator-Judges should make this declaration,” aniya.
Iginiit niyang hindi dapat magkaroon ng personal na pakinabang sa pulitika ang mga senator-judge bilang dahilan para humatol ng pagkakasala, at dapat nakabatay ang kanilang pasya sa mga ebidensiyang nagpapatunay sa mga paratang.
Ipinagdasal din ni Cayetano na magkaroon ng karunungan at wastong paghatol ang Senado sa kabila ng pagkakaiba sa opinyon ng mga miyembro nito.
“May God always give the Senate wisdom and good discernment despite differences of opinion among its members, so that we may serve You, Lord God, and Your people – the Filipino people – well,” aniya.
Sa ilalim ng mga tuntunin ng Senado sa impeachment trial, kailangang gampanan ng mga senator-judge ang kanilang tungkulin nang walang kinikilingan o pagtatangi, anuman ang kanilang kinabibilangang partido o panig sa pulitika.
Binigyang diin din ng Korte Suprema ang kahalagahan ng pagsunod ng Impeachment Court sa mga itinatakda ng Konstitusyon, ang due process, at ang mga tuntunin hinggil sa paghawak ng ebidensya.
Matapos bawiin ng prosekusyon ang tatlong artikulo sa unang bahagi ng buwang ito, nakatuon na lamang ngayon ang paglilitis sa Article II ng impeachment complaint, kung saan kabilang ang mga alegasyon ng pagkakaroon ng hindi maipaliwanag na yaman umano ni Duterte, hindi buong pagdedeklara ng mga ari-arian, at hindi pagbitaw sa mga interes sa negosyo.
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