Mark Villar Sole Minority Senator in Favor of Changing 16-Vote Threshold to Convict Duterte

Senate Minority Bloc Except for Sen. Mark Villar Abstain from Voting

MARK VILLAR – The Senator-judge is the sole member of the minority bloc who participated in the voting to change the threshold in convicting Vice President Sara Duterte.

The Senate impeachment court has recently voted on one of the long-standing issue with regards to the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte — the voting threshold. There were different opinions if 16 has to be the voting threshold amid some senators being physically unable to take part in the proceedings.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa remains in hiding now. He is on a prolonged absence from the Senate since November 2025 when claims that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has allegedly issued an arrest warrant against him.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is currently detained for plunder. He is faced with charges over his alleged involvement in the flood control corruption. Estrada maintains that he is innocent.

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta is also faced with plunder for receiving millions of donations during the previous election and reportedly not declaring them in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). Marcoleta claimed that those were from his friends.

Sen. Loren Legarda has yet to return to the Philippines. The lady Senator is on an extended medical leave. It was previously reported that the Ombudsman has lodged a preliminary investigation on the Senator over plunder, graft, and conflict-of-interest allegations tied to the solar energy business of her son, Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste.

The recent voting on the long-standing issue regarding the voting threshold to convict Vice Pres. Sara Duterte gathered 12 affirmative votes from the Senate majority bloc and 1 affirmative vote from a minority senator, Sen. Mark Villar.

Sen. Mark Villar has yet to speak on his decision to support the changing of the 16-vote threshold to convict Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on a post, the recent ruling states that detained, suspended, and legally restrained senators do not count in the voting. It is the same with the case of those who have medical incapacities and whose whereabouts is unknown.

Here is the result of the voting among the senator judges on the voting threshold to convict Vice Pres. Sara Duterte:

Recently, Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano spoke on the decision of the minority bloc not to participate in the voting to change the 16-vote threshold to convict Duterte.