In 'Kontra-SONA', Alan Cayetano asks Estrada, Marcoleta to be allowed to attend Sara Duterte's impeachment trial

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano in his 'Kontra-SONA' on Tuesday maintained that detained Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta should be allowed to attend the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Cayetano made the remarks as he delivered his counter-State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Plenary, a day after the penultimate SONA of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“I believe Senator Jinggoy and Senator Marcoleta are political prisoners. And that if it wasn't weaponized, they will be able to at least go out on bail,” he said in his speech.

“Sabihin niyo na mali ako but should they be allowed to attend the impeachment,” Cayetano added.

(You can tell me I’m wrong but should they be allowed to attend the impeachment proceedings.)

It can be recalled the Senate formally opened Duterte’s impeachment trial on July 7 sans the attendance of three senators. Marcoleta and Estrada are currently in detention over separate plunder charges while Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is staying out of public view following the issuance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him over his alleged role in the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war.

All three senators are members of the Senate minority bloc which Cayetano leads.

Estrada previously filed a motion before the Sandiganbayan requesting to allow his attendance to Duterte’s trial but it was denied due to lack of merit.

Marcoleta, meanwhile, called on the Senate impeachment court to find ways to allow him and Estrada to participate in the ongoing trial. He also wrote a letter to the court asking for his vote to be considered in the trial.

“Sabihin niyo na mali ako, [na] they are not political prisoners, but are they getting the justice? Pantay-pantay ba ang hustisya o selective justice po tayo ngayon?” Cayetano said.

(You can say I’m wrong — they may not be political prisoners, but are they getting the justice? Are we fair or do we have selective justice?)

“Sabi ng Pangulo, I am President not only of my family, but can we add — the President is also not only the President of the administration, he is also President of the opposition,” he added.

Cayetano, in his counter-SONA, also underscored the current issues hounding the country including the increasing national debt, low wages, and lack of regulation in vapes. He also called for the scrapping of the K-12 program as well as the continued investigation in the massive food control scandal.

He also called for the government to coordinate and work together in championing a common “national vision”.

“Despite the toxic politics, despite our disagreements, let us all seek God and have faith that when we seek him, we will find him,” Cayetano said.

“And when we find Him, He will show us His plans, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope in the future,” he added. —RF, GMA News