Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Raine Musñgi

ABS-CBN News

MANILA —Former Senate President Franklin Drilon has warned that the greatest political risk facing the country today is the possibility that the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte could fail or lose public credibility. Speaking on ANC&#x27;s Headstart, Drilon said Philippine political history offers a cautionary lesson about what can happen when impeachment proceedings are perceived as falling short of the public&#x27;s demand for accountability. &quot;To me, the greatest risk is the failure of the impeachment process,&quot; Drilon said.He pointed to the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada in 2000, when senators voted against opening the controversial &quot;second envelope,&quot; a move that eventually helped trigger the events leading to EDSA Dos. &quot;EDSA 2 happened because the majority during the impeachment of President Estrada voted to prevent the opening of the second envelope. That prompted an instability which resulted in the change of government,&quot; Drilon said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/lacson-says-escudero-to-preside-over-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-1602">Lacson says Escudero to preside over Sara Duterte impeachment trial</a></div>The warning comes as the Senate prepares to convene as an impeachment court to hear the case against Duterte, one of the most consequential political proceedings in recent years.According to Drilon, the Senate&#x27;s ability to conduct a credible impeachment trial is directly linked to its own internal stability. &quot;I have never seen a Senate since 1986 more unstable than what we have today,&quot; he said.While congratulating newly elected Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Drilon said the leadership change does not necessarily end the power struggle within the chamber. &quot;I tell you, yes, we have a new set of officers in the Senate, but the bickering will not stop. Let&#x27;s not fool ourselves,&quot; he said.&quot;There will be continuous struggle for the Senate presidency because of the impeachment and the 2028 election.&quot; Drilon noted that in his more than two decades in the Senate, including over eight years as Senate President, he had never witnessed a Senate presidency changing hands after only a few weeks.&quot;This is the first time that we have a Senate president for two weeks after that he was changed. It has never happened before.&quot; He urged Gatchalian to consolidate support within the majority bloc and secure additional members to prevent further instability.&quot;You must add one or at least one, if not two more members of the majority so that we will have a more stable situation,&quot; he said. For Drilon, stability is not simply about political survival but about protecting democratic institutions at a critical moment.&quot;The control of this institution would play a critical role as to who will control the country in 2028,&quot; he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/18/-hindi-naman-nagkainitan-poa-says-pre-trial-conference-on-impeachment-going-well-1541">‘Hindi naman nagkainitan’: Poa says pre-trial conference on impeachment going well </a> </div><div>&#x27;PEOPLE WILL NOT STAND FOR HIDING THE TRUTH&#x27;</div>Drawing from his experience during the Estrada impeachment trial, Drilon said senators must remember that impeachment proceedings ultimately depend on public trust. &quot;By my recollection, and I think this is borne out by history, the people would not stand for hiding the truth,&quot; he said.&quot;In an impeachment trial, the public would like to know the truth, and attempts to hide the truth will not be accepted by our people.&quot; Drilon warned that senators should be mindful that the impeachment court&#x27;s legitimacy will rest on whether the public believes the process is fair, transparent and impartial.&quot;If we hide the truth, when the people will notice that there is an attempt to hide the truth, especially for personal and political ends, I cannot predict what the people will do,&quot; he said. Drilon also offered a specific recommendation to senators as they prepare for the impeachment proceedings: avoid appointing an impeachment manager for the Senate.&quot;I advise my former colleagues, do not have an impeachment manager, because you are supposed to be a collegial body that is impartial,&quot; he said.While acknowledging that an impeachment manager could perform administrative functions, Drilon said the position could create the impression that someone is influencing the outcome of the proceedings. &quot;What will the impeachment manager manage — the decision?&quot; he asked.&quot;It is perfect for the prosecution or the defense to have impeachment managers to manage how the case is presented, how the evidence is marshaled. But the impeachment court is supposed to decide on what is presented to them.&quot; <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/19/bato-as-fugitive-makes-15-votes-enough-to-impeach-vp-duterte-expert-1058">Bato as &#x27;fugitive&#x27; makes 15 votes enough to convict VP Duterte—expert </a> </div>Drilon cautioned that the public could misinterpret the role.&quot;The impeachment manager may be misconstrued, and I underscore, misconstrued by the public to be managing the results of the impeachment.&quot;Instead, he suggested allowing the Senate Secretary, who serves as clerk of the impeachment court, to handle administrative matters while the Senate Majority Leader continues performing his regular duties. &quot;Please do not commit the mistake of having an impeachment manager, not because of anything, but because of perceptions,&quot; he said.<div>NATIONAL INTEREST MUST PREVAIL</div>As political maneuvering intensifies ahead of the impeachment trial and the 2028 elections, Drilon appealed to senators to place national interest above partisan calculations.&quot;We all join our countrymen and appeal to our senators. Please have national interest as the guiding factor in your daily activities,&quot; he said.&quot;I would attribute statesmanship to our senators and only think of the affairs of the national interest when they cast their crucial vote.&quot;For Drilon, the stakes extend far beyond the fate of a single official. &quot;What kind of impeachment trial will we have? And what kind of stability would this government project?&quot; he asked.&quot;Very dangerous for our governance.&quot; Catch the full interview with Franklin Drilon on Headstart and on YouTube with ANC 24/7.<div> </div><div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gi3NqTBMOOU?&amp;t=738s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon has warned that the greatest political risk facing the country today is the possibility that the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte could fail or lose public credibility.

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon has warned that the greatest political risk facing the country today is the possibility that the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte could fail or lose public credibility.

Drilon urges senators: Put country first in Sara Duterte impeachment trial

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Drilon urges senators: Put country first in Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Raine Musñgi,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 21, 2026 09:50 PM PHT

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Franklin Drilon

Impeachment

Sara Duterte

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