Cayetano vows to act ‘forthwith’ on impeachment process: We won’t delay

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano promised that he will not delay the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte once Senate is convened as an impeachment court.

In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, Cayetano was asked how he will approach the impeachment. He answered: “Forthwith.”

He later added: “We won’t delay. We have no reason to.”

Cayetano was elected as the new Senate president on Monday at the same hour the House of Representatives began discussing the Articles of Impeachment.

On the same day, the House approved the transmittal of the impeachment to the Senate.

READ: VP impeached; House gets 257 votes to start trial

Under former Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III’s lead, he promised to convene the impeachment court a day after the articles are transmitted, saying his definition of “forthwith” is “the next day.”

In contrast, Cayetano has not identified a possible timeline for the impeachment process, but said he is set to meet with the newly-formed majority to discuss the matter.

It must be noted that the coup against the previous Senate leadership under Sotto consequently positioned in the majority the Duterte-allied senators.

These are Sens. Christopher “Bong” Go, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Imee Marcos and Rodante Marcoleta. /apl