MANILA — It will be “more difficult” to secure a conviction in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte if more of her family’s allies are elected to the Senate after the May midterm polls, according to a member of the House prosecution panel.

Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores issued the statement after the latest Pulse Asia survey showed that some Duterte allies moved up in the ranking for preferred senatorial candidates in the May elections.

While some members of the House prosecution panel previously expressed confidence on the evidence they will present before the Senate once it sits as an impeachment court, Flores said the proceeding is still a “political exercise.” He also believes that senators will consider public opinion in deciding on the impeachment trial.

“If the outcome of the national elections would lead to the event na marami na rin ‘yung supporters ni VP in the Senate, then it will make it more difficult on the part of the public prosecutors to convince them on how they will vote as far as the impeachment is concerned. Kasi we all know naman, it's a political exercise. So the more that the Vice President has allies in the Senate, the more difficult it will be on the part of the public prosecutors to secure a conviction,” Flores explained.

 “You cannot go beyond ano ‘yung na-secure mo as evidence in supporting your case… Whether or not it is enough to convince the senators or the senator-judges, that would really depend on the senator-judges themselves. Because ang evidence is evidence… How they appreciate it will be a question. Is it enough to convince them?" he added. 

"Or is it not enough to make them change their minds as to whether they continue to support the Vice President? And of course, you have the public opinion. That's the ultimate test talaga. Kasi the senators, even if they say that they will be judging it based on what was presented, they still will listen to the people,” he said.

Flores said the survey results have no effect on the impeachment trial preparations of the House prosecution panel. He noted that for now, some members are focused in their respective local campaigns to be reelected to the House of Representatives.