Lacson: Cayetano’s call for senators to reject VP post uncalled for

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson said it was uncalled for to preempt President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and limit his choices for a possible replacement for Vice President Sara Duterte should she be removed from office.

Lacson was reacting to Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s call for all senator-judges in Duterte’s impeachment trial to emulate Sen. Francis Escudero’s pronouncement that he would reject any nomination to replace Duterte if she is convicted.

READ: Cayetano to peers: Declare to reject VP post if Sara Duterte convicted

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Escudero, who serves as the presiding officer in Duterte’s impeachment trial, made the declaration on his podcast over the weekend.

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READ: Escudero to refuse VP nomination should Sara Duterte be removed from office

“I’m not interested, and my term runs until [2031], so I’ll stay here in the Senate. But why should he interfere with the President’s prerogative to choose? Why is he limiting the president’s choices?” he said.

“I think it’s uncalled for to preempt the president. Let the president make the choice,” he added.

“What I heard is that Sen. Lito Lapid is somewhat favored. How can he deny Sen. Lito the opportunity if he wants it? I don’t think it’s proper to even call,” he went on to say.

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Lacson said he would reject the vice presidency if it were offered to him, adding that he prefers to stay in the Senate.

Still, he said, it is the president’s prerogative to decide whether to offer the post to other senators.

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“He should not meddle or preempt the process. The president is the one who makes the choice, of course, subject to confirmation by Congress. But he should not get ahead of the president,” Lacson said, reacting to Cayetano’s remark.

If Duterte is convicted and removed from office, Marcos can nominate a senator or a member of the House of Representatives to replace her, in accordance with the 1987 Constitution.

Though he welcomed Cayetano’s call, Sen. JV Ejercito said it was too early to discuss Duterte’s possible ouster since her impeachment trial is still ongoing.

“We should not yet be discussing who would become or be appointed vice president. The impeachment trial is still ongoing, and we cannot be certain what the verdict will be. It’s as if we’re already sure of the outcome. It’s premature to talk about it,” he said.

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After the prosecution dropped three of the four articles of impeachment against her, Duterte now faces only one charge, which accuses her of amassing unexplained wealth and failing to declare all her assets in her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth. /mcm