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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Escudero keen on retaining rules in VP Duterte's impeachment trial

Escudero keen on retaining rules in VP Duterte's impeachment trial

Published May 15, 2025 06:43 pm
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday, May 15, said he will recommend that they retain the existing impeachment rules for the impending trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, warning against perceptions of partiality if changes are made “in the middle of the game.”
Escudero said that while proposals for revisions have been submitted by various senators and legal experts, his own recommendation is to leave the current rules unchanged for this case.
“Pero ang direksyon na personal kong tinatahak sa ngayon ay i-suggest sa impeachment court na wag nang baguhin ‘yong rules dahil baka maakusahan pa ang Senado at ang institusyon ng Senado na we are changing the rules in the middle of the game to favor one side or the other (But the direction I’m personally taking right now is to suggest to the impeachment court not to change the rules anymore, because the Senate and the institution itself might be accused of changing the rules in the middle of the game to favor one side or the other),” he said.
“Ipapanukala ko na kung may pagbabago man sa rules, ito’y mag-aapply to future impeachment cases and not this one (I will propose that if there are any changes to the rules, they should apply to future impeachment cases and not to this one)," he said.
He clarified that this proposal will still need the impeachment court’s approval. The Senate is set to resume session on June 2, with the impeachment court expected to convene the following day. Escudero detailed the formal process that will trigger the start of the trial.
“Magpapadala kami ng notice sa Kamara itong darating na linggo na kailangan nilang ipresinta ang articles of impeachment or at least ‘yong charges man lamang sa plenaryo ng Senado (We will send a notice to the House this coming week that they need to present the articles of impeachment—or at least the charges—in the Senate plenary)," he said, adding that the prosecutors — not just the Majority Leader — must read the charges in plenary, in line with the rules and precedents.
“Hindi filing ang magti-trigger ng impeachment court, it is the Senate plenary taking cognizance of it... Dapat basahin ng prosecutors ‘yon formally (It is not the filing that triggers the impeachment court, it is the Senate plenary taking cognizance of it... The prosecutors must formally read it)," he added.
Meanwhile, like before, Escudero refused to comment about the events that may occur in connection to the impeachment trial.
“Tulad ng dati ayokong pangunahan anuman ang magiging resulta ng impeachment. Hayaan nating tumakbo ang proseso at hayaan nating magpasya ang impeachment court (As before, I don’t want to preempt whatever the outcome of the impeachment will be. Let’s allow the process to run its course and let the impeachment court decide),” he said when asked about the potential outcome of the trial now that the composition of the 20th Congress is taking shape.
“Gusto niyo mag-postgame analysis tayo pagkatapos. Pero ano mang pregame analysis maaaring ma-interpret na panghuhusga na ni wala pang napepresenta o nakikitang ebidensya ang mga uupo bilang hurado,(If you want, we can do a postgame analysis afterward. But any kind of pregame analysis might be interpreted as prejudgement, even before the judges have seen or been presented with any evidence)," he added.
This is amid observations that the outcome of the midterm polls may have shifted the political alignment in the Senate, possibly boosting Duterte's chances for acquittal.
But Escudero emphasized that senators are not beholden to any political bloc.
“Each senator will decide for himself, for herself, the various issues we will confront as members of the Senate as representatives of the people who are elected at large,” he added.
When asked about the robes to be worn by Senator-judges, Escudero said preparations are nearly complete: “Napatahi na, alam ko napatahi na at nasukatan na kung hindi ako nagkakamali, lahat o maliban sa isa, kaugnay ng may mga nangangampanya kasi na hindi pa naman nakuha… nakunan ng sukat pero ready na… ginaya lang naman ‘yon dati (They'vealready been sewn, as far as I know they’ve been sewn and fitted—everyone, or all except one, I believe—because some were still campaigning and hadn’t been measured yet... but they’ve been measured, and they’re ready... they’re just patterned after the ones used before)."

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impeachment trial chiz escudero Senate VP Sara Duterte VP Sara
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