Manila: House of Representatives impeachment team adviser and spokesperson Ace Barbers on Friday rejected claims that criminal cases involving senator-judges were fabricated to bar them from participating in Vice President Sara Z. Duterte's impeachment trial and potentially lower the number of voting threshold for her conviction.
According to Philippines News Agency, Barbers emphasized that the legal troubles confronting individual senators should be assessed based on facts and evidence, rather than being automatically portrayed as manipulation of impeachment proceedings. During an online press briefing, Barbers stated, "All these things are not fabricated. Parang sinisisi pa 'yung gobyerno na kaya merong mga kasong ganito, eh dahil inimbento (It seems like the government is being blamed for these cases, as if they just invented them) against you."
Barbers' comments were in response to concerns raised by Duterte's camp that adopting a variable denominator could enable the government to target senator-judges and prevent them from voting, thus reducing the number needed for conviction. Duterte spokesperson Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. warned that lowering the current 16-vote threshold could incentivize those in power to target senators expected to vote against their preferred outcome.
The issue gained importance as several senator-judges are unable to participate in the proceedings for various reasons, raising questions about whether they should continue to be included in computing the constitutionally required two-thirds vote. Among those facing legal proceedings is Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who is detained while facing a PHP75-million plunder case involving funds he allegedly received ahead of the 2025 elections. Marcoleta has denied any wrongdoing and is seeking bail.
Barbers referenced Marcoleta's case to refute suggestions that the government had manufactured cases against senators to influence Duterte's impeachment trial. He urged, "Magpaliwanag kayo, harapin ang inyong kaso (Explain yourselves, face your cases)." He acknowledged, however, that having criminal proceedings and an impeachment trial running concurrently could raise questions about timing, especially if the cases affect the ability of senator-judges to participate.
Barbers noted, "Sa tingin ko, wrong timing na merong sabay na impeachment trial at meron kang kasong kinakaharap (I think it's just bad timing to face a lawsuit while an impeachment trial is happening at the same time)." The debate over the cases is connected to the broader dispute over Presiding Officer Sen. Francis Escudero's ruling that 16 votes, or two-thirds of the full 24-member Senate, are required to convict Duterte.
This week, the prosecution began presenting evidence under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment involving allegations of unexplained wealth. Evidence under Article I involved alleged misuse of confidential funds, while Article IV concerned alleged grave threats and inciting sedition statements. Article III, addressing allegations of bribery, has yet to be presented.
