By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday rejected Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s assertion that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte would overshadow the government’s investigation into the controversial flood control projects, insisting that both processes are moving forward independently.
Speaking during a Palace press briefing, Press Officer Claire Castro said there is no basis for Cayetano’s claim that the administration is focusing solely on the impeachment proceedings while neglecting corruption investigations.
She pointed out that the National Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Department of Justice have continued to actively pursue their respective investigations into the flood control controversy.
Castro also took a swipe at the senator, suggesting that he may have missed updates on the investigations because of his frequent activity on social media.
“You should ask Senator Alan Peter Cayetano where he got that information. Although it seems he spends most of his time on Facebook, so you may have difficulty reaching him,” Castro said in Filipino.
She emphasized that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Cabinet officials do not discuss the impeachment case during official meetings, stressing that government agencies continue to carry out their mandates without political interference.
Castro’s remarks came in response to Cayetano’s comments during a Facebook Live broadcast on Wednesday, where the senator warned that prioritizing the impeachment case over other alleged corruption issues would amount to “selective justice.”
Cayetano argued that if the administration expects the public to set aside other corruption controversies and focus first on the impeachment proceedings, it would create the impression that justice is being applied selectively.
Meanwhile, preparations for the impeachment case continue after the Senate impeachment court concluded its pretrial proceedings this week. The formal trial is scheduled to begin on July 6, with both the prosecution and defense expected to present documentary evidence and witness testimonies before the court.
ia/xf
