The results of the senatorial elections could play a big role in deciding whether or not Vice President Sara Duterte is impeached.
In the Philippines, the Senate is made up of 24 senators, and they will act as judges in the impeachment trial. For Sara Duterte to be convicted, the Senate needs at least 16 votes, which is two-thirds of the total senators. However, for her to be acquitted (found not guilty), only nine votes are needed.
According to political expert Prof. Aries Arugay, there are already seven senators who are expected to vote in favor of acquitting Sara Duterte. These senators include well-known politicians like Senators Christopher “Bong” Go, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, and Rodante Marcoleta, who are doing well in the current election.
Additionally, House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar and Senator Imee Marcos are also likely to vote for Sara Duterte. They both received support from the Vice President before the elections, and they were also part of the team campaigning for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Other senators, like Robin Padilla and Alan Peter Cayetano, are already strong supporters of Sara Duterte. Padilla is from the same political party as Sara Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, while Cayetano was her father’s running mate in the 2016 elections.
So, if we add up all these senators who support Sara Duterte, there are already seven votes in her favor. However, she will need two more to reach the magic number of nine for her acquittal.
The upcoming impeachment trial will depend on how other senators vote. Some senators, such as Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, and Erwin Tulfo, are also doing well in the elections. They ran under the same team as President Marcos and Vice President Duterte, but it’s unclear how they will vote during the trial.
Arugay, the political expert, says that political alliances may not matter as much in this trial. Senators may think about what’s best for their future, especially if they plan to run for re-election in 2028. They will also consider the evidence presented during the trial when making their decisions.
Senate President Francis Escudero has urged the senators to be fair and impartial during the trial, which is expected to start on July 30.
This impeachment trial will be closely watched as the election results unfold and as senators decide how to vote.
