Cayetano: No choice but to hold impeachment trial

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano believes the Senate has no choice but to carry out its constitutional duty when it comes to Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case.

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And that's to put Duterte on trial based on the Articles of Impeachment lodged against her by the House of Representatives.

"The Senate has no choice... You cannot put to a vote what should be done with the It is clearly stated in the Constitution.

There must be a trial," Cayetano said in a statement.

The veteran legislator and lawyer was obviously alluding to an attempt from his colleague, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, to do away with the impeachment complaint against his ally, Duterte, by mere adoption of a resolution in plenary.

But doing so would skirt the impeachment process as spelled out in the 1987 Charter.

"We have to carry out our constitutional duty," said Cayetano, who had a nuanced view thanks to his being a former House speaker.

The impeachment case against the Vice President originated from the 300-plus strong House of Representatives. The chamber transmitted the Articles of Impeachment way back on Feb. 5.

His stance notwithstanding, Cayetano acknowledged that the timing of the impeachment case made it more complicated than it should.

This was because it was filed just as the 2025 election campaign season was starting last February. But now that the polls are over, there are only weeks left before the 19th Congress ends.