MANILA — House prosecutor and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor said a conviction in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte remains possible despite political tensions in the Senate, provided that senator-judges properly assess the evidence.

In a televised interview, Defensor expressed optimism that the presentation of evidence before the Senate impeachment court could influence voting outcomes.

“I’m optimistic, that if they get to see the evidence before them, baka makumbinsi din ang iba sa kanila. Katulad nung nangyari sa Kongreso na kung kailan lumabas ang ebidensya, maraming marami palang bumoto (it might convince some of them. Like what happened in Congress, when the evidence came out, many voted for impeachment),” he said.

He recalled that support for impeachment in the House of Representatives initially remained uncertain before committee hearings began, but shifted once evidence and testimonies were presented.

“But when the Committee on Justice started the hearings and laid down the evidence based on the complaints filed, tumatag ang loob ng mga miyembro ng Kongreso para bumoto pabor sa impeachment (it strengthened support for a vote in favor of impeachment among House members),” Defensor said.

He added that Vice President Duterte’s alleged failure to directly respond to accusations also influenced lawmakers’ positions.

Defensor stressed that impeachment is both a legal and political process, making public sentiment a factor in its outcome.

“That is why the impeachment is not strictly a judicial process. It is a political process na kahit ang taong bayan ay pwedeng makisali at ang mga opinyon ng tao ay pwedeng mag-sway sa ating mga senador (that even the public may participate, and the people’s opinion may sway our senators),” he said.

He cited OCTA Research survey results showing rising public support for the continuation of the impeachment trial, from 69 percent in the first quarter to 74 percent in the second.

“Seven out of 10 Filipinos want the impeachment to continue,” he said. “At katok na ‘yan sa pinto ng bawat senator-judge na pakinggan natin ang ebidensya at sunduin lang natin ang proseso (And that is already a knock on the door of each senator to hear the evidence and follow the process).”

Asked about expectations for the Senate impeachment court, Defensor said political dynamics in the upper chamber must be acknowledged but added that senators will be judged by the public based on their conduct during the proceedings.

“But we also see the fact that how our senator-judges will act during the Senate trial will also be a judgment, will also be a basis for the people to judge them, whether people like it or not, and whether the people will re-elect them or not,” he said.

Under impeachment rules, conviction requires a two-thirds vote or at least 16 of the 24 senator-judges. The trial is expected to begin in July following pre-trial proceedings.