The Manila Times
NEWLY elected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said the leadership shakeup in the chamber was not influenced by the impending impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, which he said would proceed without delay. Cayetano announced plans to convene an all-member caucus, possibly on Wednesday, to discuss major pending matters, including the handling of impeachment proceedings and committee leadership assignments in the Senate. Among the issues expected to be tackled during the caucus are discussions involving the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and other committee chairmanships. Despite the significance of the impeachment process, Cayetano said the Senate cannot focus solely on one issue at the expense of other pressing national concerns. “There are many economic issues that also need our attention,” he said. Asked whether the Senate would immediately convene regarding impeachment matters, Cayetano replied, “forthwith,” emphasizing that there would be no unnecessary delays in the constitutional process. The Senate president said he had consulted former Senate president Vicente Sotto III, who recommended that the complaint first be referred to the appropriate committee in accordance with Senate procedures. “We will do what has to be done, and there won’t be delays,” Cayetano said. He added that the Senate leadership intends to proceed within a “reasonable time,” noting that prolonged proceedings could divert lawmakers’ attention from other legislative priorities. “There is no reason to delay,” he said. “The longer this drags out, the more our attention remains focused there, when the country also needs us in other capacities.” Cayetano emphasized that while impeachment is a vital constitutional accountability mechanism, the Senate must continue fulfilling its broader legislative mandate, including addressing economic recovery, inflation concerns, employment, and other urgent public issues. Still, he underscored the importance of giving impeachment proceedings the full attention and seriousness required under the Constitution. “It is such an important accountability process, so we will give it full attention,” he said. The Senate caucus is expected to clarify the chamber’s procedural direction in the coming days as lawmakers prepare for debates on both governance and accountability issues. Cayetano assumed the Senate presidency on Monday, May 11, pledging to steer the chamber through what he described as a period marked by overlapping domestic and global crises, including corruption concerns, rising economic pressures, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change. In his inaugural speech, Cayetano emphasized the growing hardships faced by ordinary Filipinos and called on political leaders to work together rather than deepen divisions. “In every crisis, there are big winners, and there are big losers. Unfortunately, it is the poorest of the poor who are always the losers. So, I urge all of you, let’s unite [and] let’s discuss,” Cayetano said after taking his oath of office. The new Senate leader also addressed speculation linking the leadership transition to the anticipated impeachment trial of Duterte, stressing that the Senate must remain focused on its constitutional mandate and the country’s stability. “Before us might be the impeachment [trial], but let me make it very clear. There have been reports in the news... that the leadership change is about impeachment. It’s not,” Cayetano said. He said the impeachment proceedings must be handled according to constitutional principles and evidence, not political loyalties. “The impeachment is enshrined in the Constitution. The Bible says the truth shall set us free,” he said. “The impeachment will be much, much more than dismissing a complaint because of political affiliation. And it is also much, much more than convicting someone without evidence. Neither of those is possible. We need to be guided by the truth, guided by evidence.” Cayetano said senators must approach the process with impartiality and a commitment to due process as public scrutiny intensifies. Despite political differences within the chamber, he urged lawmakers to cooperate in addressing major national concerns. “I take a step forward, my dear colleagues, and offer myself to serve you... I am here to respect the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President, the House of Representatives, and each one of you,” he said. Cayetano acknowledged that the Senate itself would face public judgment over how it manages politically sensitive matters, particularly the impeachment proceedings. “The Senate is also on trial. So, dear colleagues, as we ask God to guide us and help us, I’d like to thank all of you who supported me today. I will do my job,” he said. “Let’s not do anything we’ll regret, so feel free to call me out if you think the direction is wrong,” he added. Calculated move Despite Cayetano’s assurances, a political analyst and civic leader on Tuesday said the sudden change in Senate leadership was not simply internal realignment but a calculated move to prevent Duterte’s impeachment trial from proceeding. National security expert Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia said the Senate change was “never really about leadership.” “The objective was to make sure the impeachment process would not proceed,” Goitia said. He also pointed to the return of dela Rosa, who had been absent from Senate sessions for months before reappearing to cast a decisive vote in the leadership shift. Goitia said the timing of dela Rosa’s return would naturally raise public suspicion. “Many ordinary Filipinos died during the drug war while major drug personalities were never seriously touched,” he said. “People remember that. So when someone disappears for months and suddenly returns during a crucial political moment, naturally, people will ask why.” He also raised concerns over what he described as contradictions between public image and political action among some senators involved in the leadership change. “You cannot talk about principle only when it is convenient,” he said. “Leadership is tested during difficult moments.” Goitia rejected calls for unity from the new Senate majority, saying unity should not be used to discourage scrutiny. “Real unity requires transparency,” he said. “If people are discouraged from questioning those in power, democracy becomes weaker.” He also warned of what he described as increasing foreign influence in domestic politics, saying institutions must remain accountable primarily to Filipinos. “The real question now is whether our institutions still answer first to the Filipino people, or whether they are slowly being shaped by political survival and foreign influence,” he said.
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