House Prosecution Panel member and Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua believes that it would be unfair to allow senator-judges who skip the impeachment trial proceedings of Vice President Sara Duterte to cast their votes on the verdict.

“Pa’no naman magiging fair ’yon on the part of defense at tsaka sa amin kung buong trial, hindi naman niya nasaksihan, hindi siya nakapag-participate, wala siya doon tapos hihingin ang boto niya,” he said

[“How would that be fair to the defense or to us if they didn’t witness the entire trial, failed to participate, were absent, and yet their vote is still required?’]

Chua emphasized that it would be fair to allow only the active senator-judges who participated in the impeachment trial to vote, as they are the ones who fully observe the proceedings. 

“Paano nagkaroon ng fair justice doon sa ganong sitwasyon? Hindi po ba fair lamang kung sino yung nandoon, sila ang mag-desisyon, dahil sila ang nakakapag-observe ng mga demeanor ng mga iu-upong testigo both sa parte namin at sa parte rin ng defense,” he added

[“How can fair justice be served in that situation? Isn’t it only right that those who are present make the decision, since they are the ones who can observe the demeanor of the witnesses called by both our side and the defense?”]

Rep. Chua objected to the statement of Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

“Until a final and binding ruling is rendered, any assertion that I have been stripped of my authority to discharge my constitutional duties as a senator-judge is premature, baseless, and undermines the integrity of the impeachment process itself,” according to the Senator

House Trial Spokesperson and Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Co agrees with Chua

“Kailangan nandoon ang isang senator-judge para may quality participation siya sa impeachment trial,” she said

[“As a senator-judge needs to be physically present to ensure quality participation in the impeachment trial.”]

Meanwhile, House Trial Spokesperson and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong trusts that the Senate impeachment court will do its part and believes that the proceedings must move forward.

“We trust that the impeachment court will do its part as well. Let the proceedings move forward. Let the evidence be heard. Let the truth come out,” he said

Both parties — the House Prosecution Panel and the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte are set to submit their pre-trial briefs to the Senate Impeachment Court on June 15, 2026, ahead of the pre-trial conference scheduled on June 18, 2026.

With reports from Rosalie Coz