Cayetano: ‘Obvious’ who is allegedly behind threats vs minority

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday said it was “obvious” who was allegedly behind threats against members of the minority, while his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, separately raised concerns over intimidation against senator-judges during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it, guys? It’s obvious, you can see it with your eyes,” Cayetano told reporters in an ambush interview.

Cayetano then named Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as an example, saying, “When Senator Ping, for example, says that the impeachment should be finished by December. Then, by December, they say I’ll have a case against me.”

Article continues after this advertisement

“The changing of the numbers, who is being charged? Those in the opposition, when they move to the administration, isn’t it obvious to you, guys? You’re in the media,” he went on, in an apparent reference to discussions on the voting threshold for conviction amid the absence of several senators from the proceedings.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

READ: Calleja: VP conviction vote threshold could drop to 13 with 20 senators

Asked who was threatening the minority, Cayetano said it would not make sense for members of the opposition to threaten one another.

Pressed further on whether he was referring to Malacañang, Cayetano did not directly name anyone.

“Let’s open our eyes. If we want to see the truth, all we have to do is open our eyes,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

The minority leader’s remarks came Monday, as he and Pia had earlier raised the issue of threats and intimidation during the 24th day of Duterte’s trial, with former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang as the prosecution’s witness on Article II, which covers allegations of unexplained wealth.

During his interjections, Cayetano and Tang discussed the importance of an impartial tribunal in holding public officials accountable.

Article continues after this advertisement

Cayetano then raised the independence of courts, noting that, in reality, there can be “dependence, co-dependence, and independence.”

“And in reality there can be pressures?” he asked.

Tang replied, “That can happen.”

Cayetano then asked whether changing the rules “midstream” would affect the ability to hold an official accountable.

Tang answered that, based on Sandiganbayan rules, such a change was not allowed, but said this did not necessarily apply to the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.

Cayetano ended his questions by jokingly asking Tang, “Can you issue a writ of amparo to senator-judges here who are intimidated?”

Meanwhile, Pia continued the line of questioning, asking Tang whether intimidation was permissible for a tribunal to remain impartial and whether she had experienced threats because of her profession.

Tang said she had not experienced such threats in relation to pending cases before the Sandiganbayan.

“I’m happy for you because we have,” Pia told Tang.

The minority leader has been facing probes related to alleged irregularities in reclamation projects in Taguig City, his political bailiwick.

Lacson has previously announced that he forwarded findings on alleged irregularities in Taguig projects to the Office of the Ombudsman, while Cayetano has denied wrongdoing and accused Lacson of targeting him.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

The Inquirer sought comment from Lacson’s office on the matter but had yet to receive a response as of posting time. /das