Palace says talks of Sara Duterte replacement ‘too premature’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday said it was “too premature” to discuss who would succeed Vice President Sara Duterte if she were convicted in the impeachment trial.

Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano urged fellow senators to reject any offer from Malacañang to take over the country’s second-highest post if Duterte is convicted.

READ: Senators still free to decide on VP post – Cayetano

But Palace press officer Claire Castro said such discussions were premature out of respect for the Office of the Vice President.

“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 at a briefing in Cagayan de Oro City.

(First of all, we should not be discussing replacing the vice president at this time. It is far too premature. For me, we should respect the Office of the Vice President.)

“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 continued.

(If there are people who do not respect the President, or who make negative remarks about him—even if they do not respect him personally, they should at least respect the Office of the Vice President.)

Cayetano is also in no position to dictate his fellow senators, and such a call shows disrespect to the OVP.

“Una, very premature; dahil sabi niya dahil premature walang paggalang sa opisina ng Bise Presidente; pangalawa, wala naman siyang karapatang magdikta sa lahat ng senador kung anong gusto ng senador; pangatlo, at wala rin po siyang karapatan pangunahan ang nais ng Pangulo,” Castro said.

(First, it is very premature. She said it is premature because it shows a lack of respect for the Office of the Vice President. Second, she has no right to dictate to all senators what they should want. Third, she also has no right to preempt the President’s wishes.)

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

In a Facebook post  on Monday, Cayetano expressed support for Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s statement that he would reject any offer to assume the vice presidency if Duterte were convicted in her impeachment trial.

“Tama po ito! All of us Senator-Judges should make this declaration,” Cayetano said.

(This is right! All of us Senator-Judges should make this declaration,)

“It’s essential that in all impeachment proceedings (especially of Presidents and Vice Presidents), Senator-Judges are politically neutral and will have no incentive to convict except for evidence that proves the article/s of impeachment,” he added in his post.

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

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, however, said it was uncalled for to preempt Marcos and limit his choices for a possible replacement for Duterte.

“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 of the verdict. It’s as if we’re already sure of the outcome. It’s premature to talk about it,” he said. /mr