Senator Cayetano orders steps to keep impeachment trial on schedule amid Senate row

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has ordered Senate Secretary Atty. Jose Luis Montales to take steps to ensure that the impeachment trial timetable remains on track despite the ongoing leadership dispute in the Senate.

In a June 7 letter, Cayetano instructed Montales to coordinate with Atty. Renato N. Bantug Jr., who has been recognized by the Gatchalian bloc as Senate Secretary, to explore temporary administrative measures that would allow the Senate Impeachment Court to operate without interruption.

The move comes as the impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is set to issue its Notice of Pre-Trial on June 9, marking the formal start of pre-trial proceedings under the approved schedule.

While Cayetano reiterates that the June 3 Senate reorganization was illegal in a “substantial and unmistakable” way, he stressed that the dispute should not hinder the Senate’s work or delay the impeachment process.

“Pending resolution [by the Supreme Court], it is imperative that the resulting legal and political dispute not be allowed to unnecessarily disrupt the operations of the Senate, impair the work of the Impeachment Court, or diminish the institution's ability to discharge its constitutional responsibilities,” he emphasized.

Following Cayetano’s directive, Montales sent a letter to Bantug on June 8 requesting a meeting “to discuss a possible way forward that may preserve the continuity of institutional operations and allow the impeachment proceedings to move forward in an orderly manner.”

Among the proposals being considered is a dual-signatory or joint-certification arrangement covering vouchers, checks, disbursements, contracts, personnel actions, and other official documents required for the continued functioning of both the Senate and the Impeachment Court.

Under the proposed setup, documents requiring certification or approval could carry the signatures of both the officials currently performing the functions and those asserting authority over the same responsibilities.

Cayetano emphasized that any interim arrangement would be adopted “solely as a practical and institutional measure” to ensure that the Senate can continue carrying out its constitutional duties amid what he described as an “extraordinary situation.”

He also underscored the need to shield Senate employees from being caught in the middle of the political and legal conflict.

“They should not be subjected to pressure arising from matters beyond their duties and competence to determine. Public servants who have faithfully served this institution for many years should not become collateral casualties or unwilling instruments in a legal and political conflict not of their making,” he said.