Senator Robin Padilla expressed confidence on Saturday that the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte would fail to gain traction in the House of Representatives, preventing the case from ever reaching the Senate.
During a radio interview, Padilla noted that the Senate minority bloc has not prioritized discussions on the matter because they do not expect the House to transmit the case.
“Madalas naman kami mag-meeting pero hindi namin napag-uusapan ang impeachment sapagkat hindi kami confident na makakarating sa amin,” Padilla said.
Reflecting on past impeachment trials, Padilla noted that while the political landscape has shifted, the procedural nature of the chamber remains the same.
“Ngayon kung yan ay makarating, naranasan naman natin yung unang impeachment, ganoon din mangyayari diyan. Ang pinagkaiba lang, kami ngayon yung minority, iba yung majority,” he added.
Padilla, who had previously indicated that the minority bloc would oppose convening the Senate as an impeachment court, clarified that their role is not to block the majority blindly, but to act as a “watchdog” over the proceedings to ensure fairness and legality.
“Hindi ibig sabihin na pag ikaw ang oposisyon, haharangin mo. Io-oppose mo. Kung ano yung mali, io-oppose mo. Kaya nga tayo may plenaryo para kung ano yung hindi mo naiintindihan, pag-uusapan niyo,” he explained.
He likened the minority’s responsibility to that of a sentry, ready to sound the alarm on any perceived irregularities in the process.
“Kapag binasa mo ang meaning ng oposisyon at minority, ang nakalagay doon ang minority ang watchdog. Ano ang ibig sabihin ng watchdog? Binabantayan mo kung ano yung ginagawa ng majority. Ibig sabihin kakahol ka kapag mali, pag wala, susuportahan mo,” the senator added.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the articles of impeachment on May 11. To elevate the case to the Senate, at least 106 votes—one-third of the 318 members—are required.
Should the case reach a trial, the 1987 Constitution mandates a two-thirds vote of the Senate (16 senators) to convict and remove the Vice President from office.