Senator Robin Padilla said Wednesday, September 23, that he could be facing his last day in the Senate as he discussed the situation of minority senators who are unable to attend Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial amid the debate over the voting threshold.
Padilla explained why he and other senators have been raising the situation of members of the minority who are currently unable to participate in the proceedings.
“Kaya po namin nababanggit ang mga kasama namin sa minorya na kasalukuyan ay nasa piitan, sapagkat, baka ito na rin ang huli kong araw dito eh. Hindi ko na rin alam eh,” Padilla said.
He said the minority has been going through difficult circumstances and appealed to fellow senators not to further pressure colleagues who are already facing legal proceedings.
“Pinaliliwanag lang po namin sa inyo na may pinagdadaanan ang minorya. At hindi po dapat sana na tayo pa dito ang nagdidiin sa mga kasama ninyo. Bahay natin ’to eh!” he said.
Padilla also referred to his own pending legal proceedings, saying he does not know what will happen after his scheduled hearing.
“Sanay naman ako maging convicted, pero ’wag naman ganyan... Ang hearing ko, sa Biyernes na. ’Di ko alam kung anong susunod. Baka ma-miss ko na kayo,” he added.
Padilla made the remarks after Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo raised the issue of senators who are unable to attend the impeachment trial as part of the discussion on the voting threshold.
“May nagsabi rin po na siguro noong panahon po noong ginagawa ang Konstitusyon, ang mga kaso po ng mga senador noon, either subversion, sedition, yun po ang mga kaso,” Tulfo said.
“Hindi po plunder, hindi po pagnanakaw. Kaya po iniisip nila ng mga senador na hanggang ngayon ay hindi po makakasuhan ng mga teribleng kaso,” he added.
The Department of Justice issued subpoena to Padilla in connection with a complaint for alleged obstruction of the apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders, stemming from accusations that he helped Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa leave the Senate in May.
