Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang said discussions about replacing Vice President Sara Duterte were premature pending her impeachment trial.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the administration would not entertain speculation about a possible successor, adding that the impeachment process must take its course.
“Unang-una po ay hindi po dapat pinag-uusapan ang pagpalit kay Bise Presidente sa panahon na ito, napaka-premature. Para sa akin, igalang natin ang opisina ng Bise Presidente,” Castro said during a press briefing in Cagayan de Oro City on Tuesday, Oct. 27..
[Translation: First of all, replacing the vice president should not be discussed at this time. It is very premature. For me, we should respect the Office of the Vice President.]
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano urged his colleagues to reject any offer to become vice president should Duterte be convicted and removed from office.
The proposal raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest involving senator-judges who could eventually be considered for the position.
Castro maintained that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wanted the impeachment proceedings to continue without prejudging the outcome.
“Dahil hindi pa po tapos ang impeachment trial hayaan nating gumulong ang proseso at iyon naman po ang nais ng pangulo, gumulong ang proseso, due process,” she said.
[Translation: Since the impeachment trial is not yet over, let the process proceed. That is what the president wants: for the process to continue with due process.]
Castro, however, questioned Cayetano’s suggestion that senators should reject any offer to become vice president because of a possible conflict of interest.
She said the proposal was premature and that Cayetano could not dictate the decisions of fellow senators.
She added that the senator had no authority to determine what other lawmakers should do or preempt the president’s decisions.
“Wala naman siyang karapatang magdikta sa lahat ng senador kung anong gusto ng senador; pangatlo, at wala rin po siyang karapatang pangunahan ang nais ng pangulo,” she said.
[Translation: He has no right to dictate what other senators should decide, nor does he have the right to preempt what the president wants.]
Castro also called for respect for the Office of the Vice President despite political disagreements between Duterte and the administration.
“Kung mayroon mang hindi gumagalang sa Pangulo, kung mayroon mang nagpapahayag ng mga negatibo sa Pangulo – kahit hindi na siya ang irespeto, irespeto na lang natin ang opisina ng bise presidente,” she said.
[Translation: Even if someone does not respect the President or makes negative statements about him, we should at least respect the Office of the Vice President.]
Duterte is facing trial over allegations involving unexplained wealth, false Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), and failure to divest business interests.
The House prosecution panel earlier withdrew three articles of impeachment concerning confidential funds, bribery, and grave threats.
Duterte has denied wrongdoing.
