MANILA, Philippines — Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joel Villanueva admitted on Wednesday that the House prosecution panel’s decision to drop three out of the four impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte felt “off” to him as a senator-judge, despite acknowledging it as a strategic move.
Speaking to reporters, Villanueva stressed that the Senate, sitting as an Impeachment Court, should still provide the defense an adequate opportunity to address the withdrawn charges to ensure fairness.
“I don’t want to use the word unfair, but as a senator-judge, I would say na parang it’s off for me. For me,” Villanueva said.
He questioned the sudden shift in strategy following the extensive time and effort spent by the lower chamber formulating and presenting the articles.
“Why would you spend so much time in the House and come up with these articles of impeachment, present it here…and then all of a sudden,” he added.
While acknowledging that the prosecution has full prerogative over its legal strategy, Villanueva maintained that the court must balance the proceedings for both parties.
“But you cannot blame them. Please don’t get me wrong. You cannot blame the prosecution because that is their strategy. I respect that. I respect that strategy,” he noted, adding, “Whatever it is, as a senator-judge, we just have to make sure that it’s equal and just and fair to both parties.”
House prosecutors earlier announced they would drop Articles I, III, and IV—which involve allegations of grave threats, confidential fund misuse, and unexplained wealth—to proceed solely with Article II.
Villanueva also addressed reactions from the Vice President’s camp, particularly remarks from spokesperson Atty. Paolo Panelo questioning why senator-judges did not privately object to the prosecution’s withdrawal.
Dismissing suggestions that he should react more aggressively, Villanueva emphasized that members of the court must maintain proper decorum under public scrutiny.
“What am I saying right now? What does he want me to do? Magwala ako, na na-feel ko na ako ‘yung pinaparinggan?” he said.
“I would still encourage them to watch us and scrutinize whatever we are doing here, because that’s, of course, the beauty of democracy,” Villanueva concluded.