Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon expressed confidence that the House prosecution panel will secure the required 16 votes to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in her upcoming Senate impeachment trial.
Speaking in a television interview, Ridon emphasized that the prosecution’s strategy anchors itself strictly on the strength of the evidence rather than current political alignments in the upper chamber.
“Tingin naman namin, whether they are in majority, old majority, or old minority, nakabatay pa rin yung aming lakas doon sa depensa sa ilalatag,” Ridon said.
He further asserted, “So ang tingin naman namin, we will get the 16 on the basis and strength of the evidence, respective of the parties ang political lines in the Senate.”
While acknowledging the challenges of convincing senators who are politically aligned with the Vice President, Ridon maintained that achieving a conviction remains realistic.
He noted that past impeachment cases faced initial skepticism but ultimately succeeded once the formal evidence was introduced.
“Tingin ko naman po may sinasabi yung ilang senator-judges na titingnan nila yung ebidensya itself. In fact in previous impeachment proceedings, ang sinasabi naman doon, uphill battle yung lahat ng proceedings but ultimately, it was able to secure a specific number of votes,” he stated.
“So I think the same will be true for this proceeding as well pag nakapaglatag na ng ebidensya, marami pa rin tayong senator-judges na makukumbinsi to convict the Vice President.”
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian previously clarified that the constitutional requirement of 16 votes is absolute, independent of any leadership changes or shifting political dynamics in the Senate. The impeachment timeline is set to proceed with pre-trial conferences on June 18, ahead of the formal trial opening on July 6. The pre-trial phase will involve both legal teams establishing ground rules, vetting evidence, and approving witness lists.
The impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte stem from severe allegations, notably the alleged systematic misuse of ₱500 million in confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President and another ₱112.5 million during her tenure at the Department of Education.
She also faces accusations of unexplained wealth, bribery to bypass public procurement laws, inciting sedition, and an alleged plot targeting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.