Malacañang called on senator-judges to maintain neutrality ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, following remarks from Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri describing the proceedings as a “witch hunt” intended to block her from running in the 2028 presidential elections.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Palace Press Officer, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, said while the executive branch is not involved in the impeachment process, senators sitting as judges must avoid pre-judging the case.

“Unang-una, wala po tayong kinalaman sa anumang mangyayari sa impeachment trial pero bilang isang senator-judge mas maganda po tama po iyong dating sinabi ni Senator Chiz Escudero na umiwas sa ganitong mga klaseng mga pananaw dahil minsan nakikita kung saan sila kumikiling (First of all, we have no role in the impeachment trial. But as senator-judges, it would be better to avoid such commentary. As Senator Chiz Escudero earlier said, they should avoid statements like these that can reveal bias,” Castro told reporters. 

She lamented that calling the impeachment trial a "witch hunt" before it begins is like a judge declaring someone not guilty without reviewing the evidence.

“Unang-una, witch hunt ang sinasabi nila tungkol sa impeachment trial, ‘ni hindi pa nga po nakapag-start ng trial. So, parang isang judge na nagsabing hindi na siya guilty habang hindi pa dinidinig ang anumang ebidensiya (First of all, they’re calling the impeachment trial a witch hunt, even though the trial hasn’t even started yet. It’s like a judge saying someone is not guilty before hearing any evidence),”  Castro said. 

Asked whether senators who show signs of bias should recuse themselves, Castro replied that inhibition is not necessary but emphasized transparency. 

“Hindi dapat mag-inhibit, pakita na lang nila sa tao kung paano sila kumilos at gumalaw para sa taumbayan (They should not inhibit, but instead show the public through their conduct that they are acting for the people),” she said. 

In February, the House of Representatives filed an impeachment complaint against Duterte, accusing her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violations of the Constitution, and/or committing high crimes for allegedly "contracting an assassin and plotting to murder or assassinate the incumbent President, the First Lady, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

A conviction in the Senate would result in Duterte’s removal from office and a lifetime ban from holding public office.

The Senate convened as an impeachment court on June 10 but quickly returned the complaint to the House, citing constitutional issues. 

The trial is expected to begin once the new Senate convenes on July 28.

Prosecutors decry ‘witch hunt’ remark

Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima criticized Zubiri’s remark, calling it an insult to both the House and the civil society groups who filed the initial impeachment complaints.

“It’s unfortunate and insulting — not just to the House, but also to the organizations that initiated the complaints,” De Lima, who is expected to join the House prosecution panel, said.

De Lima reiterated that the impeachment process is grounded in the Constitution and supported by verified charges. 

“Hindi po witch hunt ang impeachment. Nakasaad  sa Constitution, may batayan ‘yung mga charges. Kaya nga na-impeach siya sa House level (This isn’t a witch hunt. There is a legal basis. The charges were found sufficient at the House level),” she said. 

De Lima, herself a former political detainee, added: “A witch hunt is when there’s no basis, only harassment and persecution. That’s not the case here. Comments like that only reflect personal bias, which senator-judges must avoid.”

Meanwhile, House impeachment prosecutor and Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor criticized Zubiri’s statement, calling it “unbecoming of a senator-judge.”

“It's very unbecoming of a senator-judge in an impeachment trial to say that the impeachment complaint and the trial is a witch hunt. Hindi dapat nanggagaling ‘yun sa isang (it should not comes from a) senator-judge, who is expected to receive the evidence with impartiality and to treat the impeachment as a constitutional process,” Defensor said.

He warned that such comments could influence public opinion and undermine the constitutional process. 

“May ebidensya dito at naniniwala ang (There are evidences and believed) more than 215 members of Congress. Dapat pakinggan n’yo before calling it a witch hunt or saying na dapat i-dismiss ito (it should be dismissed),” he noted. 

“Because this is a Constitutional process which must proceed to find justice not for the complainants but for the Filipinos. If it's an acquittal, we should accept it. If it's a conviction, they should accept it. But they should receive the evidence first,” he added. 

Zubiri believes the impeachment proceedings are a political maneuver aimed at sidelining the Vice President ahead of the 2028 elections.

"Of course, I have some biases. I believe this is a witch hunt meant to remove her from public service so others can take her place, and some won't have a strong opponent come 2028,” he said. 

“But I’ll set my bias aside because we must respect due process. This is a constitutional process, and it cannot be altered. Violating that means violating our oath to defend and uphold the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. So we must do what is right,” he continued. 

Zubiri also noted that Duterte continues to lead in early surveys for the 2028 presidential race, a factor he said is undoubtedly influencing the thinking of many senators.