Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Wednesday, June 4, denied that the Senate has received or filed any resolution dismissing the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, amid online circulation of what appears to be an unsigned draft document.

Speaking to reporters, Escudero clarified that no such resolution exists in the official records of the Senate.

“As of last night, even this morning, tinanong ko dahil sa mga katanungan ng media, wala pong ganyang uri o parehong resolusyon na finile o inihain sa Senado sa ngayon. (As of last night, even this morning, I asked because of media inquiries, there is no such resolution filed or pending in the Senate),” he said.

The Senate President emphasized that any document circulated on social media, lacking an author or formal filing, has no legal weight or standing.

“Anumang kumakalat na resolusyon na wala namang author na pinakita lamang din sa akin ng media ay ika nga mere scrap of paper unless may mag-file niyan, unless may mag-author niyan, unless pagdebatehan niyan, at unless pagbotohan niyan (Any resolution without an author, that was just shown to me by media, is merely a scrap of paper unless it is officially filed, sponsored, debated, and voted upon),” Escudero said.

The clarification came after an alleged Senate resolution purportedly dismissing the impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte circulated on Wednesday morning. The document, however, bears no official markings or sponsorship and has not been formally submitted through Senate channels.

Escudero stressed that the Senate, as a deliberative body, acts only upon measures that follow its established rules and processes. 

"Kung may magmo-motion, aaksyunan yan, pagde-debatehan yan at pagbobotohan (If someone files such a resolution, we will act on it, debate it, and vote on it),” he stated.

“Pero kung walang mag-file, wala kaming aaksyunan (But if no one files it, we have nothing to act upon),” he explained.

He reiterated that the Senate would not initiate any action without a proper filing.

“Pero bawat ginagawa namin, pati na rin pagtawag ng role, hindi ba, pagtawag ng reference of business, pagtayo ng isang miyembro, lahat po yan pinagbobotohan. Sa pamamagitan ng simpleng katanungan, any objection? So ito, ganun din dadaan sa prosesong yan (Everything we do goes through a vote, even procedural matters such as roll calls or motions. If no one objects, it's considered approved. Any resolution, including this one, must go through the same process),” he said.

The Senate President also addressed criticisms from members of the House of Representatives who accused him of either being fearful of or protecting the Vice President, resulting in the apparent shelving of the impeachment proceedings.

Escudero rebuffed the claims, saying, “I have long proven that I do not act or decide based on fear. As the Bible says, ‘do it, always afraid.’”

Escudero added that the Vice President herself has publicly stated that she does not support the claims being made by some lawmakers.

He also criticized what he described as an attempt by some congressmen to pressure the Senate into following the lower chamber’s lead on the impeachment process.

“Some congressmen seem used to dictating what they want to happen in the Senate. Well, if their job is to follow the Speaker’s wishes, ours is to uphold due process according to law,” he said in Filipino.

Escudero pointed out that the House of Representatives had previously sat on the impeachment complaint for over two months before transmitting it to the Senate without any protest or interference from the upper chamber.

“We respected their process. That is the same courtesy I expect from them.”

With the end of the session fast approaching, Escudero noted that unless a resolution is formally filed, the Senate will proceed according to its rules. On June 11, if no action is taken to dismiss the impeachment, the chamber will receive the articles of impeachment, convene as an impeachment court, administer oaths to the justices, and issue summons.

The impeachment complaint against the Vice President remains one of the most politically sensitive issues facing the current Congress, with potential implications for the 2028 elections and the future alignment of major political blocs.

The Senate leadership has remained firm in insisting that it will not be rushed or coerced into preemptive action outside its official procedures.