Senator Cayetano Urges Impeachment Court: Deliberate, Don’t Rush Judgment

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano

Senator Cayetano Urges Impeachment Court: Deliberate, Don’t Rush Judgment

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | July 16, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – As the impeachment trial progresses, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, a key figure among the Senator-Judges, issued a strong call for meticulous deliberation, emphasizing the critical distinction between genuine threats and justifiable warnings. His statements underscore a commitment to judicial integrity and a thorough, unbiased examination of evidence.

“As we examine statements presented in this trial, let us be cautious in labeling them as threats,” Senator Cayetano urged. “Remember, there is a thin line between a threat and a fair warning.”

The Senator expressed particular concern regarding the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) “grave threats” charge against the Vice President, specifically questioning the agency’s interpretation of a conditional statement. He demanded clarity on whether the NBI thoroughly assessed the “real possibility” of the stated condition, prompting a deeper scrutiny of the investigative body’s logic.

Procedural Integrity Under Scrutiny

Cayetano sharply criticized the NBI chief’s dictation of his testimony timetable, deeming it a clear violation of established legal protocols. “Rules are important!” he asserted. “It is inappropriate for the NBI chief to dictate the timetable of his testimony. This not only violates the five-day notice requirement but also disrupts the counsels’ strategy and the Senator-Judges’ preparations.”

The Senator further challenged the NBI’s investigative rigor as the second witness took the stand. “We seek to understand the agency’s mindset in investigating VP Duterte’s statements. Was their investigation truly thorough and exhaustive?” he questioned, also highlighting the crucial legal distinction between an alleged “grave threat” and the unsubstantiated claim of contracting an assassin.

Preserving Court Integrity and Public Trust

Senator Cayetano passionately appealed for the preservation of the Impeachment Court’s integrity, ensuring a verdict that commands public acceptance and trust. “Let’s preserve the integrity of this Impeachment Court so it can deliver a verdict our people can accept and trust!”

Addressing past controversies, Cayetano reiterated his unwavering commitment to accountability. “Go ahead and investigate the successful 2019 SEA Games. If there’s an anomaly, I would be the first to condemn it. We will not be intimidated. We will fulfill our duty as Senator-Judges. We will fight for this!”

In the pursuit of justice, he advocated for a measured approach to complex financial subpoenas. “We believe it is more prudent for the Impeachment Court to defer its decision on the motions for the subpoena of the Vice President’s bank and tax records until Monday, so that our Senator-Judges can study the complex sub-issues more thoroughly.”

Finally, Cayetano called for transparency and fairness in the withdrawal of witnesses, urging both parties to publicly explain their rationales outside the trial. “Yes, the people deserve to know why, but let’s be fair to both sides and avoid feeding the Court statements that did not come from the witnesses themselves and that the other side cannot properly rebut.”

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