MANILA, Philippines — Senator Mark Villar will maintain his seat in the Senate minority bloc despite breaking ranks with his colleagues during Wednesday’s impeachment trial proceedings for Vice President Sara Duterte.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano verified Villar’s status on Friday, putting to rest speculation about a rift within the group.
“He’s staying with the minority,” Cayetano told reporters.
Out of 13 senators who voted to scrap the impeachment court’s fixed 16-vote requirement for a conviction, Villar was the sole minority member to support the change.
The six remaining members of the minority bloc—Deputy Minority Leader Imee Marcos, Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano, Christopher “Bong” Go, Robin Padilla, and Camille Villar—abstained from participating in the vote.
Following the decision, the court adopted a new calculation where the necessary two-thirds majority will depend on the total number of senators qualified and able to participate in the trial.
Cayetano emphasized that Villar’s stance has not broken the group’s unity, explaining that members acted independently rather than casting a block vote during the trial.
“We talk about legislation sometimes during the break. But walang minority-majority pagdating sa impeachment court. So, Kung meron man tanungan, more of kapaan, pero wala kaming parang, ‘Anong boto natin dito?’” Cayetano said.
“Solid pa rin yung minority. Working at wala namang animosity ang pitong nandito sa minority,” he added.
Cayetano expressed optimism about restoring the minority to its full 11-member strength once absent colleagues address their respective issues.
“But yun nga, four of our colleagues are facing different challenges,” Cayetano noted.
Currently, Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Senator Rodante Marcoleta are dealing with separate legal matters, including plunder charges, while Senator Loren Legarda remains out on an extended medical leave.