Palace hits Cayetano over impeachment claims

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano
Malacañang on Thursday dismissed Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano's claims that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte was being used to divert public attention from the government's investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Cayetano's allegations were baseless, insisting that law enforcement agencies continue to pursue those responsible for the alleged irregularities.
"Siguro po, tutal mahilig naman po siyang mag-social media, busy siya sa Facebook, siguro makikita naman po niya iyong mga updates kung ano ang nangyayari, kung paano gumagalaw at nagtatrabaho ang gobyerno para mapanagot ang dapat na mapanagot at hindi po focus sa impeachment trial," Castro said during a Palace briefing.
Cayetano earlier alleged that the impeachment proceedings against Duterte were being used as a diversionary tactic from the ongoing flood control probe and warned of selective justice if the government's attention remained on the impeachment case.
Castro rejected the accusation, saying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his Cabinet do not even discuss the impeachment trial during official meetings.
"So, saan po kaya hinuhugot ng dating Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano ang kaniyang mga kuwento? Siguro kapag nagkaroon ng pagkakataon, tanungin ninyo siya kung saan niya kinukuha iyong mga kuwento niya," she said.
The Palace official also denied Cayetano's allegation that Tindig Pilipinas co-convener Kiko Aquino Dee was acting under Malacañang's direction.
"Si Kiko Dee Aquino ay hindi maka-PBBM. Isa po siyang madalas mag-criticize sa gobyerno. Kaya muli, ang sinasabi ni Senator Alan Cayetano ay puro pang-iintriga, walang basehan, walang pinanghuhugutan," Castro said.
She urged the public to verify claims carefully and distinguish between statements supported by evidence and unfounded allegations.
