By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — A vote that put Sen. Mark Villar on a different side from his minority colleagues during the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte has not changed his place within the Senate minority bloc, Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said.
Cayetano said Villar remains part of the group despite supporting the recent move involving the denominator used to determine the conviction threshold in the impeachment trial.
The minority leader made clear that the Senate’s political divisions do not automatically carry over to the impeachment court, where senators act as judges and are expected to make their own decisions.
“He’s staying with the minority,” Cayetano said.
Villar had departed from the position taken by other minority senators, who opted not to participate in Wednesday’s vote on the threshold.
Cayetano said the differing positions should not be interpreted as a breakdown within the minority. Senators may consult one another on legal questions, legislation and other matters, but such discussions do not mean they are required to vote as a single group during the impeachment proceedings.
“There is no minority-minority when it comes to the impeachment court,” he said.
According to Cayetano, consultations among the senator-judges are more about understanding where each member stands than determining a collective voting position.
He also rejected any suggestion of friction within the minority bloc, saying the group continues to function despite the disagreement over the threshold vote.
“(The minority is) working. There is no animosity here in the minority,” Cayetano said.
The minority leader, however, acknowledged that the bloc has been unable to operate at full strength because several members are dealing with separate legal and medical concerns.
Cayetano said he hopes all 11 members can eventually return to participate, while recognizing that four of his colleagues are currently facing circumstances that limit their involvement.
“Of course, we long for the 11 to be complete, but then again, four of our colleagues are facing different challenges,” he said.
For Cayetano, Villar’s vote represents a difference in position during the impeachment proceedings—not a departure from the Senate minority bloc itself.
ia/xf
