Malacañang has called on senator-judges to remain impartial in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, though it declined to name those it believes have shown apparent bias during the proceedings.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said several senator-judges appear to be acting more like lawyers arguing for one side rather than impartial members of the impeachment court, a role she said runs counter to their duty to remain fair and unbiased throughout the trial. 

Asked to react to the conduct of certain senator-judges during the impeachment proceedings, Castro explained that this perceived bias has been apparent in several instances since the trial began.

"Marami po kasing lumalabas sa impeachment ayon sa PCO na nag-aaktong mga lawyer, na hindi dapat, dahil dapat maging impartial, manatiling walang bias ang mga senator-judges. So, hindi po sila mandato na walisin ang katotohanan. So huwag silang magdala ng walis sa senado." 

[According to the PCO, there have been many instances in the impeachment where some appear to be acting as lawyers, which should not be the case, because senator-judges should be impartial and remain unbiased. So they are not mandated to sweep away the truth. So they should not bring a broom to the Senate.]

Castro stopped short of identifying which senator-judges she was referring to, but stressed that the Palace expects all members of the impeachment court to conduct the trial fairly, without favoring either the prosecution or the defense.

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