‘Hindi tayo puwedeng mag-speculate’: Palace says no talks of Sara Duterte replacement

MANILA – There have been no talks of Vice President Sara Duterte’s potential replacement should senator-judges convict her at her ongoing impeachment trial, Malacañang said Thursday.

This comes in the wake of rumors that House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III of Isabela is being eyed to replace Duterte in case she is convicted at her impeachment trial. 

“Wala pa pong conviction. Hindi tayo puwedeng mag-anticipate. Hindi tayo puwedeng mag-speculate dahil ang defense ay magpipresenta pa po ng kanilang ebidensiya,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing Thursday, October 15.

The Palace official maintained there are no discussions on Duterte’s possible replacement sans decision from the impeachment court and out of respect to the vice president’s position.

She also called on to let the proceedings take its due course. 

“So wala pa pong nangyayaring pagdedesisyon ang impeachment court so hindi po ito napag-uusapan. So in fairness at pagrespeto na sa posisyon ng Bise Presidente, hindi po ito pag-uusapan at hindi pa po ito napag-uusapan. Hayaan nating gumulong ang proseso,” Castro added. Asked about the potential considerations of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in nominating Duterte’s replacement, Castro said it is difficult to say for now.

“Wala talaga. Mahirap. Hindi pa, eh. Respeto na lang. Kahit pa minsan-minsan ay hindi nagbibigay ng respeto ang iba pero ang Pangulo, nirerespeto ang posisyon ng Bise Presidente,” she said.

Under the constitution, should there is a vacancy in the Office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President from among the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives who shall assume office upon confirmation of a majority vote of all the members of both chambers of Congress, voting separately.