FACT CHECK: Senators did not resign amid Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial 

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The lawmakers shown in the video were outgoing senators who either reached the end of their terms or failed in their reelection bids

Claim: Senators from the 19th Congress resigned from office amid the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim was posted on YouTube on June 12. The video has garnered 18,212 views, 227 comments, and 667 likes, as of writing. 

The title on the video reads: “Mga senador nag resign! Grabe Escudero nagulat! Sunod-sunod na nag alisan! Tinanggal sa impeachment!” 

(Senators resigned! Escudero shocked! They quit, one after another! Removed from impeachment!)

The video shows several senators making farewell speeches as they thanked their colleagues and reflected on their time in the upper chamber.

The facts: No senators have resigned. The lawmakers featured in the video were outgoing senators who either reached the end of their terms or failed in their reelection bids. Their departures were not connected to Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Among those who are leaving the Senate due to term limits are Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Koko Pimentel, and Cynthia Villar. 

Binay is set to serve as mayor of Makati City. Poe did not run for any public office in the 2025 elections.

Pimentel and Villar both ran for Congress — Pimentel for Marikina’s 1st District and Villar for Las Piñas City — but lost. Senator Bong Revilla also failed to secure reelection.

The YouTube account used clips from the Senate’s June 11 livestream, the day Congress adjourned sine die, showing the outgoing senators delivering their valedictory speeches. 

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Impeachment proceedings: The video surfaced amid the impending impeachment trial of the Vice President. On June 10, the Senate convened as an impeachment court and decided to remand the impeachment articles to the House of Representatives, a move that the Senate minority bloc argued was tantamount to dismissal of the case.

The House, on the other hand, certified the following day that the proceedings did not circumvent the Constitution. (WATCH: How impeachment court ended up with decision to send back case vs Sara to House)

When the 20th Congress opens in July, it will decide whether or not to proceed with the trial or drop it entirely. (WATCH: Rappler Talk: What’s next in VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial?)

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5. The impeachment articles cited her alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, among others. (READ: Frequently asked questions on VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial) – James Patrick Cruz/Rappler.com