The senators-judges in the Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial will be composed of a "balanced" mix of political allies of President Marcos, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and former vice president Leni Robredo.

Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor, one of the 11 congressman-prosecutors in the upcoming Senate impeachment trial, gave this assessment in the aftermath of the 2025 mid-term elections.

In the Senate race during the May 12 polls, the Marcos-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate won several seets, the pro-Duterte ticket won some, and personalities connected with Robredo won a few as well.

"Merong Alayansa, nasa grupo ng Alyansa. meron din naman na sa hanay ng ating pangulong Duterte at sa hanay ng ating Vice President. Meron din naman sa hanay ng mga dating kakampi ni vice president Leni Robredo na tulad ko," Defensor said.

(There were Alyansa candidates, who were part of the Alyansa group. There were also members aligned with president Duterte, as well as those in the ranks of our Vice President. Additionally, there are those from the former allies of Vice President Leni Robredo, like myself.)

"Gustong gusto ko na balanse para mas madaling tanggapin ng taong bayan at hindi sabihin na iluto natin ang desisyon ng Senado sa impeachment court (I strongly prefer balance, so that it is easier for the public to accept and to prevent any claims that we are manipulating the Senate's decision in the impeachment court)," he said. 

Vice President Duterte--daugther of ex-president Duterte--will get ousted from her postion if Defensor and the other House prosecutors convince two-thirds of the 24 judges to convict her.

Suffice it to say that the entry of the new 12 senators following the polls have made the impeachment trial all the more interesting, if not harder to call.

"Ayaw natin pangunahan ang kanilang pag-iisip, how they will vote. But we cannot avoid saying ang isang impeachment trial is a political process. It's purely a political act at hindi may iiwasan na may kampihan at ang bangayan sa impeachment trial ay magdadala kung saan nakapanig ang konsensya ng isang senator-judge," Defensor said.

(We do not want to preempt their thinking, how they will vote. But we cannot avoid saying that an impeachment trial is a political process. It is purely a political act, and it is inevitable that alliances will form and clashes will occur. Ultimately, the impeachment trial will lead a senator-judge to align with where their conscience stands.)

"So sa tingin kung ayon sa resulta ng election for Senator, napakaganda kasi balanse ang mga Senador na inihalal ng mga taumbayan (In my view, based on the results of the senatorial election, it is excellent because the senators elected by the people reflect a balanced composition)," added the congressman from Iloilo.