A big question is being asked in the Philippines right now: Should Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino take a break from judging the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte?
An important lawyer named Christian Monsod, who helped write the 1987 Constitution (that’s like the big rulebook of the Philippines), says yes, they should.
Why Should They Step Back?
Senators like Bato and Tolentino are supposed to act like judges during impeachment trials. That means they should be fair and not take sides.
But the problem is, both of them already spoke out before the trial even started. They said that the case against VP Sara should be dismissed right away — like saying, “Let’s throw this case in the trash” before even hearing all the facts.
Monsod says that’s not fair. He believes they might not be independent, which means they might have already made up their minds — and that’s not how judges should act.
“They should think about stepping aside. If they can’t be independent, they shouldn’t be judging this case,” Monsod said.
What Did the Two Senators Say?
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Senator Bato (Dela Rosa) said the case should be dismissed immediately, without going through the trial process.
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Senator Tolentino said that if the trial goes beyond June 30, 2025, the case should be considered automatically over because of the Constitution.
Are They Stepping Back?
Not yet.
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Senator Bato said he won’t back down from judging, because he doesn’t think he did anything wrong.
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GMA News tried to ask Senator Tolentino for more comments, but he hasn’t replied yet.
Can Senators Be Forced to Step Back?
Some experts say maybe, but it’s not easy.
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Domingo Cayosa, a former top lawyer in the Philippines, says impeachment trials are different from regular court cases. There are no clear rules about removing a senator-judge who already gave an opinion.
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Senate President Chiz Escudero said only the senators themselves can decide if they want to step back or not. Nobody can force them.
“It’s their own choice,” Escudero said. “There’s no rule that forces them to quit judging the case.”
What If a Senator Steps Back?
Law professor Paulo Tamase from the University of the Philippines said this could make things confusing.
Here’s why:
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The Constitution says two-thirds of the 24 senators must agree to remove a Vice President.
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But what if someone steps back? Do we still count 24 senators? Or just 23?
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The rules don’t clearly say, so this can cause big debates.
What’s This All About?
Vice President Sara Duterte is facing impeachment, which is like being put on trial to see if she should keep her job.
Now, some people are worried that some of the senators judging her might not be fair, because they already said she should not be on trial.
So the big drama now is:
👉 Should they still be allowed to judge? Or should they step aside?
The answer might change how fair the trial looks — and it’s something the whole country is watching closely.
