SP Gatchalian to focus on impeachment trial amid call to reject VP post

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said he would remain focused on the impeachment trial amid the call of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano to reject offers to succeed Vice President Sara Duterte should she be convicted.

Gatchalian said a lot is still expected to unfold in the impeachment trial as Duterte’s defense team has yet to present its evidence.

“To be fair sa respondent, hindi pa nape-present ng defense ‘yung kanilang ebidensya at testimony. So pakinggan muna natin lahat bago tayo mag-isip ng next steps,” the Senate President said.

(To be fair to the respondent, the defense has yet to present their evidence and testimony. So let’s hear everything first before we consider the next steps.)

Asked if Gatchalian has received any initial offers for the vice presidency, he said, “Ako, impeachment muna ang tinututukan ko eh.”

(My focus is only on impeachment as of the moment)

“Pinag-aaralan namin mabuti, pinag-aaralan ko mabuti. And of course, ‘yung impeachment proceedings, pinag-aaralan din namin mabuti ‘yung dates, ‘yung times. In the next few days, budget season, papasok na sa plenary. So, ito lahat inaayos namin. So, naka-concentrate muna kami sa process,” he added.

(We are studying this carefully, I am studying it carefully. We are also carefully reviewing the impeachment proceedings’ dates and the schedule. In the next few days, the budget will reach the plenary. We are currently organizing all of this now. So we’re only focusing on the process.)

Cayetano earlier called on his fellow senators to declare that they will decline offers for the vice presidency should Duterte get convicted in her impeachment trial.

The Senate Minority Leader made the appeal in response to the statement of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero---presiding officer of the impeachment court---that he will refuse the vice presidency, if Duterte gets convicted, due to conflict of interest.

Timeline

Gatchalian also said the impeachment trial may extend up to December given that the Senate has to balance it with the ongoing budget deliberations and the upcoming bicameral conference committee meetings to consolidate disagreeing provisions of the budget bill.

“Parang hindi na kaya ng November from the looks of it. So, I'm sure, tingin ko, tatawid ito ng December,” he said.

(It looks like the impeachment trial can’t conclude by November. So I’m sure it will extend to December.)

The impeachment trial is currently suspended to pave the way for the committee deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget. The Senate impeachment court shall reconvene on November 9 at 10 a.m. —VAL, GMA News