Impartial Senate impeachment trial vowed
AMID rising political tensions, Senate President Francis Chiz Escudero reassured the public that the Senate will conduct the trial impartially. He emphasized that he would not entertain any partisan lobbying from groups either supporting or opposing the impeachment.
“Balewala sa ’kin at hindi ko papakinggan o susundin sino mang pro-impeachment o pro-Sara. Sino mang anti-impeachment o anti-Sara. Wala akong pakialam sa mga ’yon,” he declared. “Ang susundin ko at susundan ko ang batas, ang Konstitusyon, ang rules ng Senado at ng impeachment court at titiyakin ko na parehas, kapanipaniwala, at gagawad ng hustisya ang proseso nang walang pinapanigan, pabor man o kontra dito.”
He also confirmed that, so far, he has not received direct pressure from political factions regarding the trial’s pacing. However, he acknowledged that social media discourse and public opinion remain intense.
“To be fair, kapag ang tinatanong mo, may nag-text ba sa ’kin na ganito-ganito, may tumawag ba sa ’kin na gusto makipag-usap na gan’to-ganto? Wala!” the Senate chief stressed.
Escudero reiterated that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will strictly follow due process, resisting external pressure to either hasten or delay the proceedings.
Speaking in an interview on DWIZ, Escudero made it clear that the Senate will not be swayed by partisan interests and will instead uphold the Constitution and the established rules of the impeachment court.
Escudero dismissed claims that the process should be accelerated. He refuted assertions that the word “forthwith” in the Constitution implies immediate action, pointing out that past impeachment trials did not commence instantly upon receiving a complaint.
On suggestions that Congress should call a special session during the legislative recess to tackle the impeachment case, he clarified that the Constitution only allows special sessions for urgent legislative measures, such as passing laws of national significance, and that impeachment trials are not among the circumstances warranting such action.
“Hindi po nakalagay ’yon sa Constitution,” he asserted. “Tatratuhin namin ito tulad lamang ng iba at ordinaryong impeachment process. Hindi namin ito panggigigilan. Hindi kami magpa-panic kaugnay nito,” he said.
The Senate President maintained that any deviation from standard procedures could undermine the credibility of the impeachment court. He warned against treating the case with undue urgency or favoritism, stressing that the Senate would uphold a neutral stance.
“Ordinaryo lang kasi ito.Tratuhin naming espesyal ito? Espesyal ba si VP Sara para tratuhin naming espesyal ito?” he said, reiterating that the Vice President will be treated the same way as any other impeachable official.
Responding to Vice President Duterte’s earlier statement that she does not plan to personally attend the impeachment trial, Escudero acknowledged that she has the right to waive her appearance and be represented by legal counsel. However, Escudero rejected the notion that the Senate would be intimidated by the Vice President or any other high-ranking official.
“Tinitiyak ko sa kaniya, hindi kami ma-intimidate,” he asserted. “Karapatan niyang ’wag mag-attend sa arraignment dahil nga sang-ayon sa aming rules, ang arraignment ay puwedeng gawin in person or through counsel.”
