No talks of Dy being prepped as VP: Too premature, says Luistro, Garin

MANILA, Philippines — Two ranking lawmakers from the House of Representatives have shot down rumors that Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III is being considered as the replacement for Vice President Sara Duterte, in case she is convicted by the Senate Impeachment Court.

In separate interviews on Thursday, both Deputy Speaker Janette Garin and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said that they have not heard of serious discussions about Dy leaving the House and being nominated as the next vice president.

According to Luistro, lead public prosecutor for Duterte’s impeachment, it is premature to discuss such scenarios when they do not know how the impeachment court will rule on the case.

Article continues after this advertisement

“First of all, ’wag natin i-preempt ’yong appointment ng vice president sapagka’t we’re not yet sure as to the verdict in this impeachment trial. This trial can result to either conviction or acquittal. Borrowing the words of the presiding officer, it’s like putting the cart before the horse,” Luistro told reporters covering the House.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

(First of all, let us not preempt the appointment of a vice president because we’re not yet sure as to the verdict in this impeachment trial.)

“So antayin muna siguro natin ang magiging resulta nitong impeachment trial na ito before we talk about that,” she added.

(So let us wait on what will be the result of this impeachment trial before we talk about that.)

However, Luistro clarified that all members of Congress, including Dy, will be qualified to be the next vice president once that situation comes—although she maintained that it is too early to discuss such matters.

Article continues after this advertisement

Under Article VII, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution, if there is a vacancy in the Office of the Vice President, the sitting president will nominate a vice president “from among the Members of the Senate and the House” who will assume office upon confirmation of a majority vote of all House and Senate members.

“But just to give comment do’n sa possibility or idea that it might be Speaker Bojie Dy, let me just state na I think the members of the legislative are all qualified to be the appointee in the event that the position of the vice president will be vacated,” Luistro noted.

Article continues after this advertisement

“But nonetheless, masyado pong maaga para pag-usapan ’yan. Let us see first kung ano’ng magiging result ng impeachment trial na ito,” she added.

(But nonetheless, it is too early to talk about that. Let us see first what will be the result of this impeachment trial.)

Luistro said she has not heard of any rumors involving Dy, as she is focused on the preparations for the impeachment trial. Garin, on the other hand, said that such suggestions were made as a joke—stories that must not be taken seriously.

“May mga, alam mo ’yon, ’yong the usual na nagpo-propose pero this is coming from people who are not being taken seriously. I don’t even think Speaker Bojie is also interested in the position,” Garin said.

(You know, there are those who make the usual proposals as a joke, but this is coming from people who are not being taken seriously.)

“I’m not sure no—it’s a lot better to ask him—pero talagang the usual process na mayroong ‘oh dapat ganito ’yong mga proposal’ but these people who would have all those, let’s say unique suggestions, are usually not taken seriously. So wala talagang seryosong usapan na gano’n,” she added.

(I’m not sure no—it’s a lot better to ask him—but it was merely like the usual process where someone would say, ‘this is how things would happen under this proposal’ but these people who would have all those, let’s say unique suggestions, are usually not taken seriously. So there are no such talks.)

Garin also disputed allegations that Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos’ move to Lakas-CMD, leaving the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP)—the political party of Dy and Marcos’ father, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—is connected to this scenario.

READ: Sandro Marcos joining Lakas meant to fill up leadership void — Luistro

According to Garin, claims that the younger Marcos is being groomed for the speakership once Dy assumes the vice presidency are far-fetched since the Majority Leader is conscious of the fact that his father is still the president.

“May mga nagsasalita ng mga gano’n pero hindi sineseryoso ’yon ni Cong (Marcos)… sa pagkakaintindi ko ah, I’ve never seen Congressman Sandro Marcos take it seriously, mga magpo-propose sa kanya na ganyan. I don’t think he is amenable to the idea, he always wouldn’t like to be in those positions kasi siyempre, presidente tatay niya,” Garin noted.

(There are also those who say such things, but Cong (Marcos) is not taking it seriously… based on my understanding, I’ve never seen Congressman Sandro Marcos take it seriously, even if there are such proposals. I don’t think he is amenable to the idea, he always wouldn’t like to be in those positions because, of course, his father is the president.)

“I mean he’s not dumb, he’s a very intelligent guy. Alam niyang minsan ’yong iba, medyo may kasamang mga bola-bola ’yan na tinutulak siya for the Speakership, but walang gano’n, he actually immediately drops all those proposals,” she added.

(He knows that some of the people would push him to be the Speaker to flatter him, but he actually immediately drops all those proposals.)

Prosecutors like Luistro have refused to comment on the strength of their evidence against Duterte so as not to violate the sub judice rule, but the prosecution spokespersons have stated that they are confident in the case they have built.

READ: Article II’s essence: Sara plays simple but numbers won’t lie — Diokno

On Wednesday, prosecution spokesperson and former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said that while dropping three out of four articles of impeachment against Duterte is a huge risk—as the entire case would now rely on the strength of Article II—the fact that they took shows how confident they are.

“And in spite of that too big of a risk, we took the risk. Bakit? Kasi gano’n ka-kumpiyansa kami dito sa article naiwan, nailatag nang maayos, klarong-klaro ang ebidensya, at sa aming paniwala ay these are incontrovertible evidence. Napaka-hirap na balewalain o i-dispute itong mga pinakitang ebidensyang ito,” Barbers said.

(Why? Because that is how confident we are in this article, we were able to lay down the evidence properly; it is clear, and we believe this is incontrovertible evidence. It’s hard to disregard or dispute the evidence presented.)

READ: Prosecution: We saw VP team’s ploy to delay trial

If Duterte is convicted based on Article II, or the allegation that she has unexplained wealth and that these were not declared in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, she will be removed from office.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Aside from removal from public office, the charges against Duterte carry another penalty if she is convicted—perpetual disqualification from holding public office. /cb