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Advocates Philippines
Fears Grow Over Sara Acquittal In Senate Trial
Photo credit: Congress PH
Renee Co of the Kabataan Party-list warned that public concern over the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is growing following the recent leadership changes in the Senate, with many Filipinos fearing that the new majority could steer the proceedings in Duterte’s favor.
Speaking during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Co said the issue is no longer just about whether the Senate will convene as an impeachment court, but whether the trial itself will move forward fairly and without political maneuvering.
“May bahagi na ’yun yung agam-agam ng mamamayang Pilipino, kasi ano bang mga effects ng pagpalit ng Senate leadership, may nakita akong tatlo possibly. Lalo na’t yung bagong majority publicly aligned with VP Sara Duterte and publicly during the 19th Congress nagpasa ng mga motion para ipatigil ‘yung mismo trial proper, whether that’s motion to dismiss or motion na pagbotohan natin kung magko-convene ba tayo as an impeachment court anyway,” Co said.
The Makabayan bloc lawmaker identified three major concerns being raised by the public.
The first, according to Co, is the possibility of delays in the impeachment process, especially if senators reopen debates on the constitutional meaning of the word “forthwith,” which requires the Senate to proceed immediately once the Articles of Impeachment are transmitted.
“One, delay in the process. Yung reinterpretation ng word forthwith,” she noted.
The second concern involves how the Senate impeachment court may handle evidence during the trial. Co pointed to the impeachment proceedings against former President Joseph Estrada in 2001, when disputes over opening a controversial envelope containing evidence became a defining moment of the case and triggered public outrage that later contributed to the EDSA Dos uprising.
“Number two, ‘yung conduct of the trial itself. Ano bang nakita natin sa kasaysayan? Nakita natin di ba during the impeachment trial ni former President [Joseph] Estrada, nagkaroon ng discussion yung Senate kung bubuksan ba nila yung envelope that contains evidence na ikukonsidera sana ng impeachment court para masabing guilty or not sa impeachable offense si former President Estrada,” Co said.
“Will we see the same for this trial? Sana naman hindi,” she added.
Co said many Filipinos are worried that similar procedural moves could be used to block or weaken evidence against Duterte during the proceedings.
The third and biggest concern, she said, is the possibility that Duterte could ultimately be acquitted if pro-Duterte senators dominate the numbers needed to convict.
“Kaya ’yan ang iniisip ng mga mamamayang Pilipino and even yung number three, ‘yung resulta. Botohan, two-thirds yung kailangan, ilan ’yan, kung meron lang sapat na numero baka in the end ma-acquit si VP Sara,” Co warned.
Under the Constitution, at least 16 senators must vote to convict an impeachable official.
Despite the political tensions surrounding the case, Co stressed that the impeachment process should be respected from start to finish and not manipulated through technicalities or procedural tactics.
“So anyway, ang sa atin naman nagsimula na tayo ng proseso, galangin hanggang dulo at mangyayari yung bawat step of the process in a way na hindi binabali at binabaliktad yung batas at yung regulation,” she emphasized.
Asked whether pro-Duterte senators might echo Duterte’s own claims that the impeachment case is baseless, Co said senators may adopt different strategies — from allowing the proceedings to continue while maneuvering through motions, to blocking the trial altogether.
“Baka may range of stances sila, meron diyan maghahawak ng position na dapat may trial pa ring tumuloy-tuloy kahit papaano, then sa loob puwedeng maniubrahin yung motions in a way favorable kay VP Sara. Meron namang poposisyon na hindi talaga gawin at all ang trial,” she said.
Co maintained that the impeachment complaint is backed by official records and government documents, not mere allegations or political attacks.
“Pero ang sa atin naman ang klaro at every step of the way, public records yung hawak natin. Government documents ang hawak natin para masabi na may basehan na yung impeachment offenses na china-charge sa kanya dapat i-hash out to a full-blown trial,” she added.
The impeachment charges against Duterte include allegations involving the misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and grave threats. The complaint was endorsed by the House Committee on Justice following months of congressional hearings and investigations.
Co specifically pointed to findings involving confidential funds flagged by the Commission on Audit and suspicious transaction reports linked to alleged bank transactions amounting to P6.7 billion flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
“So andyan yung confidential and intelligence funds, na ang COA na mismo naglabas ng mga desisyon and even desisyon sa apela ni VP at ng OVP na meron diyan na nahanap na hindi naaayon sa memorandum nila ‘yung paggasta at may inuutos na ibalik sa kaban ng bayan. Mayroon din yung unexplained wealth, yung P6.7B flagged by the AMLC na covered and suspicious transactions,” Co said.
“Malaki iyon, hindi patumpik-tumpik at hindi kung saan-saan nahugot na numero, and actually empowered yung AMLC na i-receive from the banks themselves na sila nagreport na fina-flag nila yung ganitong klaseng transactions,” she added.
Co also cited Duterte’s controversial public remarks that allegedly included threats against top government officials.
“And even yung outright statements sinasabi sa mamamayan, papatay siya ng tao. Nakaka-alarma yun di ba?” Co said.
The lawmaker expressed confidence that the evidence gathered by the House can withstand scrutiny and attempts to dismiss the impeachment case as politically motivated.
“So, ’yan lahat public records ’yan. Dumaan sa mahabang proseso para sumunod sa rules of evidence na maisumite sa House Committee on Justice and sa Senate to convene as an impeachment court,” she said.
“May mga magsasabi ng ganyan pero confident tayo na dumaan sa proseso na hindi masasabi at maibabato yung ganung akusasyon,” Co added.
Speaking during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Co said the issue is no longer just about whether the Senate will convene as an impeachment court, but whether the trial itself will move forward fairly and without political maneuvering.
“May bahagi na ’yun yung agam-agam ng mamamayang Pilipino, kasi ano bang mga effects ng pagpalit ng Senate leadership, may nakita akong tatlo possibly. Lalo na’t yung bagong majority publicly aligned with VP Sara Duterte and publicly during the 19th Congress nagpasa ng mga motion para ipatigil ‘yung mismo trial proper, whether that’s motion to dismiss or motion na pagbotohan natin kung magko-convene ba tayo as an impeachment court anyway,” Co said.
The Makabayan bloc lawmaker identified three major concerns being raised by the public.
The first, according to Co, is the possibility of delays in the impeachment process, especially if senators reopen debates on the constitutional meaning of the word “forthwith,” which requires the Senate to proceed immediately once the Articles of Impeachment are transmitted.
“One, delay in the process. Yung reinterpretation ng word forthwith,” she noted.
The second concern involves how the Senate impeachment court may handle evidence during the trial. Co pointed to the impeachment proceedings against former President Joseph Estrada in 2001, when disputes over opening a controversial envelope containing evidence became a defining moment of the case and triggered public outrage that later contributed to the EDSA Dos uprising.
“Number two, ‘yung conduct of the trial itself. Ano bang nakita natin sa kasaysayan? Nakita natin di ba during the impeachment trial ni former President [Joseph] Estrada, nagkaroon ng discussion yung Senate kung bubuksan ba nila yung envelope that contains evidence na ikukonsidera sana ng impeachment court para masabing guilty or not sa impeachable offense si former President Estrada,” Co said.
“Will we see the same for this trial? Sana naman hindi,” she added.
Co said many Filipinos are worried that similar procedural moves could be used to block or weaken evidence against Duterte during the proceedings.
The third and biggest concern, she said, is the possibility that Duterte could ultimately be acquitted if pro-Duterte senators dominate the numbers needed to convict.
“Kaya ’yan ang iniisip ng mga mamamayang Pilipino and even yung number three, ‘yung resulta. Botohan, two-thirds yung kailangan, ilan ’yan, kung meron lang sapat na numero baka in the end ma-acquit si VP Sara,” Co warned.
Under the Constitution, at least 16 senators must vote to convict an impeachable official.
Despite the political tensions surrounding the case, Co stressed that the impeachment process should be respected from start to finish and not manipulated through technicalities or procedural tactics.
“So anyway, ang sa atin naman nagsimula na tayo ng proseso, galangin hanggang dulo at mangyayari yung bawat step of the process in a way na hindi binabali at binabaliktad yung batas at yung regulation,” she emphasized.
Asked whether pro-Duterte senators might echo Duterte’s own claims that the impeachment case is baseless, Co said senators may adopt different strategies — from allowing the proceedings to continue while maneuvering through motions, to blocking the trial altogether.
“Baka may range of stances sila, meron diyan maghahawak ng position na dapat may trial pa ring tumuloy-tuloy kahit papaano, then sa loob puwedeng maniubrahin yung motions in a way favorable kay VP Sara. Meron namang poposisyon na hindi talaga gawin at all ang trial,” she said.
Co maintained that the impeachment complaint is backed by official records and government documents, not mere allegations or political attacks.
“Pero ang sa atin naman ang klaro at every step of the way, public records yung hawak natin. Government documents ang hawak natin para masabi na may basehan na yung impeachment offenses na china-charge sa kanya dapat i-hash out to a full-blown trial,” she added.
The impeachment charges against Duterte include allegations involving the misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and grave threats. The complaint was endorsed by the House Committee on Justice following months of congressional hearings and investigations.
Co specifically pointed to findings involving confidential funds flagged by the Commission on Audit and suspicious transaction reports linked to alleged bank transactions amounting to P6.7 billion flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
“So andyan yung confidential and intelligence funds, na ang COA na mismo naglabas ng mga desisyon and even desisyon sa apela ni VP at ng OVP na meron diyan na nahanap na hindi naaayon sa memorandum nila ‘yung paggasta at may inuutos na ibalik sa kaban ng bayan. Mayroon din yung unexplained wealth, yung P6.7B flagged by the AMLC na covered and suspicious transactions,” Co said.
“Malaki iyon, hindi patumpik-tumpik at hindi kung saan-saan nahugot na numero, and actually empowered yung AMLC na i-receive from the banks themselves na sila nagreport na fina-flag nila yung ganitong klaseng transactions,” she added.
Co also cited Duterte’s controversial public remarks that allegedly included threats against top government officials.
“And even yung outright statements sinasabi sa mamamayan, papatay siya ng tao. Nakaka-alarma yun di ba?” Co said.
The lawmaker expressed confidence that the evidence gathered by the House can withstand scrutiny and attempts to dismiss the impeachment case as politically motivated.
“So, ’yan lahat public records ’yan. Dumaan sa mahabang proseso para sumunod sa rules of evidence na maisumite sa House Committee on Justice and sa Senate to convene as an impeachment court,” she said.
“May mga magsasabi ng ganyan pero confident tayo na dumaan sa proseso na hindi masasabi at maibabato yung ganung akusasyon,” Co added.
May 17, 2026
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