Mark Villar joins Senate majority; Palace denies role, says shift won't decide trial

Senator Mark Villar has left the Senate minority and joined the majority bloc. Malacañang says it had no part in the move and that the shift will not decide the outcome of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.

The majority now has 14 senators, according to Philstar and GMA News. Philstar reported that the minority, led by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, is down to 10 members. Inquirer and the Philippine Canadian Inquirer reported that Villar now chairs the Senate committee on public works.

Cayetano links the move to Malacañang

GMA News reported that Cayetano reacted to the transfer on Thursday and wished Villar well. He said he understood the circumstances that lead to changes in political alliances, and that since May it had become increasingly clear how important it is for the administration to keep a closely allied working majority in the Senate. He added that his duty to stand for what is right and to uphold institutions stays the same whatever the political changes.

Philstar reported that Cayetano tied Villar's move to Malacañang. According to Philstar, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Cayetano had blamed the administration for several developments, among them his removal as Senate President and the commotion in the chamber.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said no politics was involved in Villar's move, Philstar reported.

The Palace reply

At a press briefing on Friday, Castro rejected Cayetano's claim, GMA News reported. She said elected senators think for themselves and cannot be forced to act against their will. "Senators have their own minds and decisions," she said, according to Philstar.

Castro said that if senators could be dictated to, the public should not have voted for them. She also asked whether Cayetano had seen senators being dictated to during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, according to both outlets.

Castro said Villar's move was a welcome sign that more senators share the direction the government wants to take on key issues, GMA News reported, and linked it to the President's aim of passing priority bills before his term ends. Philstar reported that the administration believes a bigger majority could help move President Marcos's legislative agenda forward.

What it means for the impeachment trial

The Palace rejected the view that the realignment brings Duterte's conviction closer, Philstar reported. Castro said Villar's move does not mean he is no longer an ally of the Vice President, and that the shift cannot determine or predict where the trial will go, according to GMA News.

According to Philstar, she said there is no assurance that the majority will vote as one, because each senator will decide based on their own evaluation, beliefs and alliances. She said she hoped senators would decide on the evidence rather than on alliances.

GMA News noted that Villar was the only minority senator who voted yes when the impeachment court voted on lowering the threshold to convict Duterte. After 13 senator-judges voted yes, the basis for the required two-thirds vote was changed to count only senators who can legally and factually take part in the proceedings, the outlet reported.

Politiko reported that prosecutors downplayed Villar's move. The Manila Times reported the Palace's position that the shift will not determine the result of the trial.