Senator-judge Camille Villar on Wednesday appealed for mutual respect among her fellow senators after remarks were raised about colleagues who are unable to attend the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Villar made the appeal during the Senate Impeachment Court’s deliberations on the voting threshold for conviction or acquittal, after Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo discussed the cases involving senators who are currently unable to participate in the proceedings.
“I think we should be reminded that the senators that are being detained and who are not here right now, that is not their choice,” Villar said.
She also objected to referring to the absent senators as having committed plunder or theft, noting that they have not been convicted of the charges they are facing.
“I think it's unfair to call them out that their crimes are of plunder and of theft because none of those senators have been convicted,” Villar said.
Villar, who became emotional during her manifestation, then called on her fellow senator-judges to refrain from personal attacks and observe respect inside the impeachment court.
“Can we stop it with these attacks on each other? We are senators of the Philippines. Let us give each other due respect. Let's give Filipinos due respect,” she said.
Villar's remarks came after Tulfo cited the cases faced by senators during the drafting of the 1987 Constitution as part of his argument on the participation of senators who are unable to attend the proceedings.
“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.
Tulfo later clarified that he was not referring to any of his fellow senators as convicted plunderers.
“Ngunit linawin ko lamang po, wala po akong sinasabing convicted na plunderer ang ilang kasamahan natin. Ang sinabi ko po ay charged with,” Tulfo said.
“These statements were not attacks against our fellow senators but merely confronting the present reality that some senators are physically or legally unable to participate in the impeachment trial,” he added.
The issue of absent senator-judges is central to the ongoing debate over the number of votes required to convict or acquit Duterte.
Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are currently detained over plunder cases, while Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa remains absent from the proceedings while in hiding in connection with an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Senator Loren Legarda, meanwhile, is on medical leave.
