Elected senators call for unity, vow impartiality in Duterte impeachment trial
Metro Manila, Philippines - In their proclamation messages, the 12 newly-elected senators from the 2025 midterm polls emphasized the need for a united 20th Congress and vowed to remain impartial in the looming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Winning candidates from rival slates all called for cooperation and urged their fellow lawmakers to focus on addressing the nation’s current issues.
Former ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo, the highest-ranking administration candidate at No. 4, called for “uniformity” in the Senate.
“Unity does not mean uniformity. It is finding common ground, listening to each other with respect, and working together despite our differences,” he said in his proclamation speech.
Fellow congressman-turned-senator Rodante Marcoleta, a known Duterte ally and endorsed by the family’s PDP slate, also urged for cooperation over conflict.
“Ang kailangan po natin ngayon ay pagtutulungan, hindi hidwaan. Ang kailangan po natin ay hindi paligsahan ng mga asosasyon kung hindi pag-hanap at pagtuklas ng mabisang pamamaraan tungo sa kaunlaran,” he said.
[Translation: What we need now is cooperation, not conflict. What we need is not a competition of associations but the search and discovery for an effective method towards development.]
Opposition bet and No. 2 ranked Senator-elect Bam Aquino likewise pushed for the upper chamber to unite and help Filipinos by addressing the country's problems.
The similar calls for unity among the new set of senators will immediately be put to test as among the first issues to be tackled in the 20th Congress is the upcoming impeachment trial.
The returning, new, and incumbent senators will form the 24 senator-judges in the impeachment trial, tentatively expected to begin when sessions open in July.
READ: Shifting politics, Duterte influence to sway impeachment trial outcome
Re-elected Senator Bong Go, who topped the senatorial race, said evidence is essential in Duterte’s looming trial.
“Based on evidence po ‘yan. Kung wala naman pong ebidensya, edi wala. Ano pang itagal natin dito? Sayang po ‘yung panahon,” he said.
[Translation: That's based on evidence. If there is no evidence, then there is nothing. What do we spend effort for? It's a waste of time.]
Returning Senator Ping Lacson advised the House prosecution team to present credible evidence against Duterte, adding that the depth of evidence will be crucial in directing the senators’ votes.
“They will have to convince at least 16 senators to render their verdict of conviction,” he said. “Kasi kung kulang ang ebidensya wala talaga kasi (If there is no evidence then there is none because) we’ll be answerable to the Filipino people.”
Presidential sister and re-electionist Imee Marcos, who switched slates from Alyansa to PDP, also said she will carefully review the evidence against Duterte.
However, Marcoleta, who was one of the representatives to go against the filing of the impeachment in the lower chamber, claimed that the basis of the impeachment case is “wrong.”
“Preparado ako talaga,” he said. “Nakita ko kasi kung paano nila iniilatag, mali ang batayan, mali ang proseso. Kasama ako diba? So mula doon alam ko na kung ano ang gagawin.”
[Translation: I am prepared… Because I saw how they laid it out, the basis was wrong, the process was wrong. I was with them, right? So, from there, I already know what to do.]
On other issues
Apart from stances on the impeachment trial, some senators also revealed upcoming plans and shared comments on other issues surrounding the 20th Congress.
Re-elected Senator Bato dela Rosa claimed that votes for Duterte-aligned candidates were a “protest” against the Marcos administration’s surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court
“Saan ka man ngayon (Wherever you are), President Duterte, I dedicate this victory to you,” he said in his speech.
Dela Rosa said he is planning to visit the former president in The Hague, Netherlands, where he is detained over alleged crimes against humanity linked to his bloody drug war.
Meanwhile, returning Senator Tito Sotto touched on the topic of political families and dynasties while thanking his supporters.
He said he is privileged to be elected for a fifth term and shared that he hopes to leave a meaningful legacy for his predecessors and for “future generations of Sottos” who will serve the Filipino people.
With the new batch of senators, one-third of the Senate or four sets of siblings will be working in the same term, namely: Alan and Pia Cayetano, Mark and Camille Villar, Raffy and Erwin Tulfo, and Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito.
Asked about her stance on political dynasties, the re-elected Cayetano said people should vote based on capacity.
“I have a brother in the Senate. You can scrutinize his work. You can scrutinize my work,” she said. “Mag-kaiba ‘yung work namin. Mag-kaiba paniniwala namin. Nag-dedebate rin kami.”
[Translation: We work differently. We have different beliefs. We also debate.]
All 12 newly-elected senators were proclaimed by the Commission on Elections on Saturday, May 17, at the Manila Hotel.
