Senators sitting as judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should be physically present during the proceedings, especially when casting their votes, due to the seriousness of the case and the need for full accountability inside the impeachment court.
Concerns over remote participation surfaced as senators debated a proposal that would allow members of the chamber to join proceedings virtually. The issue has gained attention as the Senate prepares to hear the impeachment case transmitted by the House of Representatives.
The House earlier voted 257-25-9 to impeach Duterte, sending the case to the Senate, where senators will decide whether she should be removed from office and barred from holding public office in the future.
House Committee on Higher and Technical Education chairperson Jude Acidre said physical presence is critical in an impeachment trial because senator-judges are not merely participating in ordinary legislative work.
“The more critical level of participation is voting. Even in the House, voting online is not really encouraged,” Acidre said in an interview.
He said voting on an impeachment case should require a higher standard because the proceeding involves the fate of the country’s second-highest official.
“In fact, you have to be physically present as the rules would require for you to vote in any measure. So much more for the impeachment of the Vice President,” he added.
He explained that senator-judges must be able to directly observe witnesses, assess their demeanor, listen to their tone, and weigh their testimony in person. These factors, he said, may be difficult to fully evaluate through virtual participation.
He stressed that impeachment is a constitutional trial, not a routine session or ordinary committee proceeding.
The debate over remote participation intensified after the Supreme Court rejected Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s plea to stop his arrest in connection with an International Criminal Court warrant linked to the previous administration’s drug war.
The proposal has drawn scrutiny amid questions on whether remote attendance could affect participation and voting in the impeachment court.
Acidre said the House would not dictate how the Senate should proceed, but emphasized that the prosecution panel’s role is to pursue the Articles of Impeachment and allow the Senate to perform its constitutional duty.
“I don’t want to get ahead of the Senate. They have a role to play,” he said.
He added that the House prosecution team would focus on presenting and defending the impeachment case before the Senate.