The prospect of altering the Senate’s top leadership would only surface if an impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte formally reaches the chamber, according to Sen. Robin Padilla, who said he currently sees no justification to replace Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Speaking to reporters at the Senate on Tuesday, Padilla stressed that the existing leadership remains intact absent impeachment proceedings. “What’s it for? I don’t really see any reason yet. Maybe if we talk about impeachment, [perhaps it will happen],” he said.
Padilla, a public ally of Vice President Sara Duterte, reiterated his opposition to any attempt to remove her from office. He also outlined his preference for who should preside over a trial should one be convened, initially describing the ideal Senate chief as “One who is for the country.” When asked whether that meant a leader supportive of the vice president, he added: “Of course. We do not engage in pretensions.”
The comments came amid renewed impeachment activity at the House, where two complaints were filed on Monday after petitioners argued that the one-year bar on filing had already expired based on a recent ruling of the Supreme Court. Those filings followed three earlier complaints lodged in December 2024.
Although the House of Representatives transmitted a fourth impeachment complaint to the Senate for trial after impeaching Duterte on February 5, 2025, senators voted in August 2025 to archive that complaint, citing the high court’s determination that it was null and void from the outset.
