Personal feelings should not affect impeachment vote — Sen. Erwin

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]I don't think that you know what I mean, uh now you will vote because uh you're an ally or you're uh in the opposition. You do not like the person.

[00:00:11]And cuz you know what I mean, you know what I mean, uh ladies, now you will make your decision because you hate the person or because you're a close friend or an ally or supporter. I I believe that the right way as a judge is like you vote, I mean uh you make a decision based on the pieces of evidence submitted uh before you.

[00:00:33]Uh so that uh you can make the right decision. I don't you know what I mean, guilty. Why?

[00:00:39]Why why will you cuz you know what I mean, you know what I mean, you know what I mean, you know what I mean, uh you you give your verdict now guilty without evidence. Uh you know what I mean, you know what I mean, there's there's a hard insufficient evidence to to convict and then you will acquit the person. You know what I mean, you know what I mean, uh so uh the way I look at it right now uh is that you always have to rule based on the the evidence, uh stability of like even even as journalists, we we don't conclude uh commentators unless we hear both sides, the the accused and then does the one accusing. So we get both sides. That and then that's how we react about we write our story.

[00:01:26]Mhm.

[00:01:27]Uh what if your other sen- the other your other colleagues will not have the same viewpoint? What do you think? Are there those who are who have already made up their minds?

[00:01:43]Let me Um I cannot speak for for the others, but I you know what I mean, you know what I mean, senators now you know what I mean, you notice them, you also saw them making remarks that they want the case dismissed right away without even looking or seeing the evidence here, they're already saying dismiss the bar. Your first attempt during the term of I think uh It was already during the time of Senator Sotto as the the the Senate President.

[00:02:13]They were the other group was already trying to dismiss the case but they but then uh the others were saying like no, why why would you do that? So they can only do the one Uh I believe that was during the time of uh Chief Justice Corona Senate President. So they can only do the argument because someone wants to dismiss the case right away without even going to trial. So um you know my senators they all were were making such remarks.

[00:02:43]Uh I I think they've already ruled. Now they're they have already you can already see based on their statements what their decision would be uh during the trial. Okay, but uh has the Senate President or anybody from the Senate brought up the fact that maybe we should stop making comments muna to the media cuz that also happened uh last year. That's also actually a way for senators to avoid conflict at this early point.

[00:03:10]I think common sense and all ladies uh will dictate you should not be making any statements like we'll have to dismiss this without even seeing the the the the the evidence. Then you're already saying all right, dismiss this case. I mean because this person is not guilty without you us looking at the evidence I mean submitted before us by by Congress.

[00:03:34]And I think that will be unfair. That will not only be unfair for for us but also for the entire public waiting for this trial. Uh