Senator Robin Padilla on Monday broke his silence regarding a rumored leadership shuffle in the Senate, dismissing claims of a “coup” intended to protect Vice President Sara Duterte from her impending impeachment trial.
Padilla, a known ally of the Vice President and a member of the Senate minority, clarified that no amount of political maneuvering can bypass the constitutional requirement for the Senate to convene as an impeachment court once the House of Representatives transmits its articles of impeachment.
“Walang paraan para mapigilan ng minorya o ng nakararami ang Mataas na Kapulungan sa pagtitipon bilang isang hukuman ng pagsasakdal,” Padilla said in a social media post.
His statement marks a shift from his previous rhetoric last week, where he explicitly vowed to prevent the chamber from acting as a tribunal.
On Monday, however, Padilla conceded that the 1987 Constitution is absolute in this regard.
“Sa ilalim ng 1987 Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas, ang isang senador o pangkat ng mga senador ay hindi legal na makakapigil sa pagtitipon ng Senado bilang isang hukuman ng pagsasakdal kapag naipadala na ng Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ang mga artikulo ng pagsasakdal,” he added.
The senator also laughed off suggestions that the minority bloc has the numbers to overhaul the leadership currently held by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, pointing out the dominance of the majority bloc.
“Matibay ang mayorya sa Senado. Obvious ba?” Padilla remarked.
Senate President Sotto has already signaled that the chamber is ready to act “forthwith” should the House secure the necessary 106 votes on Monday to move the case forward.
Despite the swirling “political gossip” of a leadership change, Sotto maintains that the Senate will fulfill its constitutional duty as the final judge in the impeachment process.