In the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano has underscored the importance of adhering to legal standards. He addressed the impeachment court, led by Presiding Officer Senator-Judge Francis Escudero, emphasizing that the pursuit of truth and accountability must not disregard the law.
Navigating the Legal Landscape
We want the public to know (the truth) as much as possible... but this is not the Wild Wild West.
Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano
Cayetano articulated the need for the court to define the boundaries between transparency and legal protections, referencing the Anti-Money Laundering Law. He highlighted that the trial should not devolve into a form of political persecution.
Drawing from his past experiences in high-profile impeachment cases involving former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as well as Chief Justice Renato Corona, Cayetano pointed out that previous trials have maintained respect for legal limitations.
During the impeachment of Chief Justice Corona, for instance, the Senate refrained from examining dollar accounts, following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed such accounts confidential. Cayetano noted that protecting the Constitution and the law supersedes the need for accountability.