MANILA, Philippines — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said that an impeachment case against a vice president could move forward without causing political instability, unlike the impeachment of a sitting president which he described as more disruptive to the nation.

“Kapag presidente ang pinag-uusapan… every single day he or she stays na hindi natatanggal, that’s damage to the country,” Cayetano told reporters.

He emphasized that removing a president carries more weight due to the potential for national turmoil, while a vice president can still be held accountable through less politically charged means.

“Kasi ang vice president, pwede mong kasuhan sa piskalya. Pwede mong kasuhan sa Ombudsman. So there are other ways to hold them accountable na walang pulitika,” he said.

While both the president and vice president are impeachable officials under the 1987 Constitution, Cayetano pointed out that only the president is immune from suit. The Department of Justice has also maintained that the vice president, unlike the president, can be subjected to regular legal proceedings even while in office.

Cayetano stressed that if an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte progresses, the Senate is constitutionally bound to act.

“Walang choice ang Senado. We have to carry out our constitutional duty. Hindi mo pwedeng pagbotohan kung ano’ng dapat gawin sa Constitution. Nakalagay sa Constitution, malinaw e. May trial,” he said.

The senator acknowledged the highly polarized public opinion surrounding the issue.

“Makikita niyo sa comments… meron neutral pero marami talaga diyan, gustong makita na trina-try siya. Y’ung iba naman, gustong ma-absuelto kaagad. That’s where the political nature of the impeachment comes in,” he said.

Cayetano also noted the timing of the filing of the impeachment complaint, which came at the start of the election campaign period and just weeks before the end of the 19th Congress.

“It would have been a totally different case if it’s at the start of the term, middle of the term. Pero the reality is finile mo the day na magsastart y’ung campaign… and now we only have two weeks,” he said.

Despite the political tension surrounding the case, Cayetano underscored the Senate’s responsibility to remain impartial throughout the process.

“Kaya may second oath. Hindi kami pwedeng mag comment [beforehand]. Kasi mag-oath kami uli that we’ll be fair,” he said.