Defensor sees path to Sara conviction 

House prosecutor and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor expressed confidence on Tuesday that Vice President Sara Duterte could still be convicted in her upcoming impeachment trial if senator-judges focus on the evidence rather than political affiliations.  

Speaking in a television interview, Defensor said the Senate’s final vote could shift once prosecutors begin presenting their case before the impeachment court. 

“I’m optimistic, that if they get to see the evidence before them, baka makumbinsi din ang iba sa kanila. Katulad nung nangyari sa Kongreso na kung kailan lumabas ang ebidensya, maraming marami palang bumoto (it might convince some of them. Like what happened in Congress, when the evidence came out, many voted for impeachment),” he said. 

According to Defensor, support for impeachment in the House was initially uncertain. 

Some lawmakers were hesitant to back the proceedings and wanted additional proof before taking a position on the complaints. 

That changed when the House Committee on Justice conducted hearings and examined the evidence and testimonies related to the allegations against the Vice President.

“But when the Committee on Justice started the hearings and laid down the evidence based on the complaints filed, tumatag ang loob ng mga miyembro ng Kongreso para bumoto pabor sa impeachment (it strengthened support for a vote in favor of impeachment among House members),” he said. 

Defensor added that Duterte’s refusal to directly address the accusations also influenced the decision of several lawmakers. He underscored that impeachment differs from ordinary court proceedings because public sentiment can play a role in shaping the outcome. 

“That is why the impeachment is not strictly a judicial process. It is a political process na kahit ang taong bayan ay pwedeng makisali at ang mga opinyon ng tao ay pwedeng mag-sway sa ating mga senador (that even the public may participate, and the people’s opinion may sway our senators),” he said. 

The House prosecutor cited a recent OCTA Research survey showing increasing public support for continuing the impeachment process, with approval rising from 69 percent in the first quarter to 74 percent in the second quarter. 

“Seven out of 10 Filipinos want the impeachment to continue,” he said. “At katok na ‘yan sa pinto ng bawat senator-judge na pakinggan natin ang ebidensya at sunduin lang natin ang proseso (And that is already a knock on the door of each senator to hear the evidence and follow the process).” 

While acknowledging the political realities in the Senate, Defensor said senator-judges would ultimately be accountable to the public for how they conduct themselves during the trial. 

“But we also see the fact that how our senator-judges will act during the Senate trial will also be a judgment, will also be a basis for the people to judge them, whether people like it or not, and whether the people will re-elect them or not,” he said. 

The impeachment trial is expected to begin in July after pretrial proceedings. Conviction would require the support of at least 16 of the 24 senator-judges.