MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday supported Sen. Francis Escudero’s pledge to turn down the vice presidency if Vice President Sara Duterte is removed from office through impeachment.
“That's right! All of us senator-judges should make this declaration,” Cayetano said in a Facebook post, sharing a news report quoting Escudero.
Escudero said he would decline the position if offered to him because accepting it after participating in Duterte’s impeachment trial could create a conflict of interest.
“I would not accept it for the simple reason that it would be a conflict of interest. We are the ones who made the decision, and I don’t think that would be right,” Escudero said in the 14th episode of his program Chiz Wiz: Usapang May Laman on Sunday.
Escudero clarified that his position was a personal decision, not a recommendation for his fellow senators to make the same pledge. He also stressed that nobody had offered him the vice presidency.
Cayetano called on senators to remain politically neutral, particularly in cases involving the president or vice president.
“It’s essential that in all impeachment proceedings, especially those involving presidents and vice presidents, senator-judges remain politically neutral and have no incentive to convict other than evidence proving the articles of impeachment,” he said.
The Senate impeachment court will resume Duterte’s trial in November, with the proceedings narrowed to a single remaining charge after House prosecutors withdrew three of the four articles of impeachment on Oct. 13.
The House prosecution dropped Article I, which concerned the alleged misuse of confidential funds; Article III, which accused Duterte of bribery; and Article IV, which involved alleged grave threats and related accusations against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first lady and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Article II accuses Duterte of failing to fully disclose assets in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and of retaining business interests while serving as vice president, allegedly violating constitutional restrictions.
During the prosecution’s presentation, forensic financial analyst Alexander Cabrera testified that his analysis of available financial records identified about P817.87 million in allegedly unexplained wealth involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, from 2022 to 2025.
He said the estimate could reach P1.5 billion under less conservative assumptions.
The prosecution rested its case on Oct. 13 and was directed to submit its documentary and object evidence for Article II. The defense is expected to present its evidence when the trial resumes, with the Senate scheduled to hold hearings on Nov. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20 and 23.
