Several members of the Senate have expressed reservations regarding the prosecution’s decision to withdraw three impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, emphasizing that the defense panel should have been given the opportunity to present its case in the interest of due process and fairness.
Sen. Joel Villanueva said he would have preferred to hear the defense panel’s presentation of evidence and witnesses regarding the charges.
“I think she deserves to be heard, yung defense niya about all of these…Ako, I’m coming from fairness na mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang pangalawang Pangulo after i-present yung dalawa, not the three. Dalawang articles na talagang mula ulo hanggang paa, nandoon yung accusations and all,” Villanueva said in an interview in the Senate.
“I don’t want to use the word unfair, but as a senator-judge, I would say na parang it’s off for me…Why would you spend so much time in the House and come up with these articles of impeachment, present I there…and all of a sudden [they will withdraw the three articles],” Villanueva also said.
Villanueva noted that while the prosecution has the right to decide its strategy, he expects the defense panel to respond with its own strategy.
Addressing remarks from Vice President spokesperson Paolo Panelo, who raised concerns over the Senate majority’s reaction to the withdrawal, Villanueva said senators must remain careful and impartial in their conduct as a court.
“What am I saying right now? What does he want me to do? Magwala ako at sabihin na feel ko na ako yung pinaparinggan? I don’t think so. We are a court…Everything that I have done so far, I’m very careful about it,” Villanueva added.
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go similarly stated that the defense should have been afforded the opportunity to respond to the allegations for the sake of truth, justice, and accountability.
“Gusto namin makakita ng patas o pantay na laban. Though still ongoing pa po yung paglilitis, kahit sino naman gusto mo makakita ng pantay at patas na laban,” Go said in an interview.
Go added that while dropping articles remains within the prosecution’s rights, both sides should be allowed to argue their positions fairly.
“So ibig sabihin kung nakasuntok na yung kabila, bigyan mo naman nag pagkakataon na lumaban naman yung kabila nang patas,” Go also said.
Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito expressed disappointment over the time spent on the withdrawn articles, noting that the period could have been utilized for deliberations on the proposed P7.2 trillion budget for 2027.
“Well, nagulat din kami sa call ng prosecution. Sabi ko, sa totoo lang, sayang ang three months, sana tinapos na natin yung budget hearings…Siguro mas nasala pa natin, mas nagkaroon tayo ng mas maganda, mas productive na mga budget hearings,” Ejercito said during a press conference.
Ejercito stated that he trusts the ruling of Presiding Officer Sen. Francis Escudero to allow the withdrawal, but reiterated that hearing both sides remains ideal.
“Para sa akin, ideally, both side should be heard…The defense, the respondent should be given due process,” Ejercito also said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson called on Vice Presidential spokesman Paolo Panelo to correct claims that the Senate wasted P500 million over 20 trial days. Panelo had asserted that the proceedings cost approximately P25 million per day and called for public outrage over the expenditure.
Lacson clarified that the P25 million daily baseline refers to the Senate’s overall operational budget as a legislative body under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), rather than the specific cost of running the trial.
“Where did he get his P25M a day figure? As far as I know, the GAA 2025 budget for the impeachment trial, most of which has remained unspent (only roughly P2 million was disbursed for the judges; robes and other items) from the original P27.5 million is now being used under the ‘continuing appropriations’ provision in the General Appropriations Act,” Lacson said.
Lacson recalled calculating a similar P700 million figure during a 28-day period under former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano when legislative output was halted due to a lack of quorum.
“The Philippine Senate in 28 days under Alan Peter Cayetano: Estimated cost — P700M. Output –chaos, gunfire, Bato’s escape despite ICC-issued warrant while under its protective custody, session boycott, failed destabilization attempt, unauthorized committee hearings highlighted by one not presided nor attended by a single senator,” Lacson said in a post on X.
Lacson reiterated that the calculation was strictly based on routine maintenance, operating expenses, and personnel services computed on a daily basis.
“The P25M per day clearly refers to the legislative functions of the Senate, not to the impeachment trial as misinterpreted, and the basis was the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) and Personnel Services (PS) for one year which I computed on a per-day basis when the Cayetano-led boycott resulted in zero-legislation output due to lack of quorum after his ouster as Senate President,” Lacson also said.
“I urge the VP’s spokesman to rectify an obviously misleading figure of P500 million, as I assume it was an honest mistake on his part,” Lacson added, pointing out that the P27.5 million allotted for the trial in the 2025 GAA remains available under continuing appropriations through December 2026.