MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robinhood Padilla has fired back at former senator and current Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, urging her not to take political disagreements “personally” as the Senate braces for the potential impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The word war erupted after Padilla claimed that it is the “natural role” of the Senate Minority to oppose the convening of an impeachment court—a statement De Lima quickly debunked as a misunderstanding of parliamentary duty.
In a lengthy Facebook post on Thursday, May 7, 2026, Padilla defended his stance by providing a textbook definition of political opposition.
- Padilla’s Argument: He maintained that the minority’s function is to provide “disagreement, resistance, or hostility” toward administration-led moves. “Perhaps you and your group should check yourselves,” Padilla wrote, addressing De Lima. “You were a fierce opposition to former President Duterte… If you check my record, I never took things personally.”
- De Lima’s Rebuttal: De Lima earlier countered that being in the minority does not mean “blind opposition,” especially in a judicial proceeding like an impeachment. She argued that senators take a special oath as senator-judges, which requires impartiality rather than reflexive political resistance.
Padilla’s claim that the minority bloc would automatically oppose the convening of the court has caused visible cracks within his own circle:
| Senator | Reaction to Padilla’s Statement |
| Imee Marcos | Dismissed the idea, stating the bloc has not yet discussed such a move. |
| Jinggoy Estrada | Explicitly denied any agreement to block the court: “Walang ganun” (There’s no such thing). |
| Alan Peter Cayetano | Emphasized that the minority will follow the law and the Constitution, not just political roles. |
| SP Vicente Sotto III | Reminded colleagues that the Constitution is simple: the Senate must convene once the articles are transmitted. |
To emphasize his “non-personal” approach to politics, Padilla reminded De Lima of their history, noting that despite their ideological divide, he was one of the first to defend her when she was “allegedly attacked” during her previous incarceration. He used this anecdote to argue that his current support for the Vice President is purely based on his interpretation of his political role.
The debate comes as the House of Representatives is poised for a plenary vote on May 11, 2026. With 215 lawmakers already signed on, the transmission of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate is considered a mathematical certainty.
While Padilla continues to hit out at the timing of the proceedings—calling them a distraction during the ongoing oil crisis—his colleagues in the Senate appear ready to follow the constitutional mandate to sit as judges, regardless of their party affiliation.