The conviction in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte remains achievable, even amid political tensions in the Senate.
This, according to House prosecutor and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor as he emphasized that senator-judges should be able to carefully evaluate the evidence presented.
“I’m optimistic that if they get to see the evidence before them, baka makumbinsi din ang iba sa kanila. Katulad nung nangyari sa Kongreso na kung kailan lumabas ang ebidensya, maraming marami pa lang bumoto,” he said.
Defensor acknowledged that securing the two-thirds vote required to convict Duterte would be difficult based on the current political alignments in the Senate.
“But if you look at it right now based on their affiliations, mahirap makakuha ng two-thirds of all the members of the Senate to convict,” he said.
Still, Defensor said the House experience showed that lawmakers’ positions could change once the evidence is presented.
He recalled that before the House Committee on Justice began its hearings, there was uncertainty over how many members would support the impeachment complaint. Some lawmakers were hesitant to proceed unless new evidence was presented.
“In fact, before the Committee on Justice hearing started, hindi ko alam kung ano ang numero na boboto pabor,” he said.
But support grew after the committee heard the evidence and testimonies, Defensor said.
“But when the Committee on Justice started the hearings and laid down the evidence based on the complaints filed, tumatag ang loob ng mga membro ng Kongreso para bumoto pabor sa impeachment,” he added.
He said Duterte’s refusal to directly answer the allegations also became a factor in the decision-making of House members.
The House Committee on Justice eventually voted unanimously to find probable cause to recommend Duterte’s impeachment. The House plenary later approved the articles of impeachment in a 257-25-9 vote.
Defensor said the same principle should apply in the Senate, where senator-judges must decide based on evidence despite political alliances.
He stressed that impeachment is both a legal and political process, making public sentiment relevant to how the proceedings unfold.
“That is why the impeachment is not strictly a judicial process. It is a political process na kahit ang taong bayan ay pwedeng makisali at ang mga opinyon ng tao ay pwedeng mag-sway sa ating mga senador,” he said.
Defensor cited recent OCTA Research survey results showing that public support for the continuation of the impeachment trial rose from 69 percent in the first quarter to 74 percent in the second quarter.
“Seven out of ten Filipinos want the impeachment to continue,” he said. “At katok na ‘yan sa pinto ng bawat senator-judge na pakinggan natin ang ebidensya at sunduin lang natin ang proseso.”
Asked about expectations for the Senate trial, Defensor said the prosecution understands that political realities in the upper chamber cannot be ignored.
“We understand clearly that the impeachment is a political question. At tanggap namin sa isang institution like the Senate, hindi maiiwasang may affiliation ka. Majority ka, may partido ka. And we accept that,” he said.
However, Defensor said senators would also be judged by the public based on how they conduct themselves during the trial.
“But we also see the fact that how our senator-judges will act during the Senate trial will also be a judgment, will also be a basis for the people to judge them, whether people like it or not, and whether the people will re-elect them or not,” he said.
He said the trial would test the ability of senator-judges to set aside political interests and decide only on the basis of evidence.
“So, paghamon din ‘yan sa kanila na maging patas. Ang kanilang apelyasyon, pagkampihan at kanilang partido ay dapat isantabi nila kasi ebidensya lang dapat ang magdidikta kung paano sila magdedesisyon,” Defensor said.
He said concerns over political alignments are valid, but senators would ultimately be answerable to the public for how they handle the case.
“So if I’m worried that they have party affiliations, of course I am. But I also look at it in a way na sila ang huhusgahan ng tao kung paano nila galawin at paano nila husgahan itong impeachment trial na ito,” he added.
The Senate leadership has changed since Duterte was impeached, with the new majority composed of senators publicly seen as aligned with the Dutertes. The minority now has 11 members, leaving a narrow division in the chamber.
To convict Duterte, the prosecution must secure at least two-thirds, or 16 votes, from all 24 senator-judges.
The impeachment trial is expected to begin in July after pre-trial proceedings before the Senate impeachment court.