VP trial: Senator Alan Cayetano cautions vs. sacrificing due process for political expediency

As the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered its 39th day on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano raised a sharp warning against sacrificing due process for the sake of political expediency.

Cayetano’s warning coincided with a major tactical retreat by the House prosecution panel.

Lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro announced that the prosecution would drop three of its four impeachment articles, narrowing its focus solely to Article II—allegations concerning unexplained wealth, SALN discrepancies, and failure to divest from business interests.

Luistro defended the move as a practical step to save court time and accommodate pressing Senate business, including the national budget.

However, the defense signaled it would not let the dropped charges pass without scrutiny. Lead counsel Sheila Sison argued that the defense deserves the right to challenge the evidence already entered into the record.

Seizing on the procedural friction, Cayetano cautioned against rushing to meet artificial deadlines like a November target date.

Reminding the chamber that the Constitution imposes no deadline on impeachment proceedings, he urged senator-judges to act with an eye toward history rather than immediate political convenience.

“Whatever the judgment, it has to be acceptable to the Filipino people,” Cayetano stressed. “Kahit ano’ng mangyari dito, may matutuwa, may magagalit, but history will judge us whether or not we upheld elementary fairness and due process.”

-Paraluman News