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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Escudero: No limits on impeachment court's power to act

Escudero: No limits on impeachment court's power to act

Published Jun 16, 2025 05:19 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate President Chiz Escudero asserted that the impeachment court has broad constitutional authority to decide on any motion.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Monday, June 16, that the Senate has full discretion under the Constitution to act as it deems fit in impeachment proceedings.
Senate President Francis
Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero sitting as presiding officer of the impeachment court. (Mark Balmores/Manila Bulletin)
Escudero said this in a press conference in response to former Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio's reaction to the impeachment court’s move on June 10, asking the House of Representatives to certify whether the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte violated the one-year constitutional ban, calling “irregular,” though not unconstitutional.
Carpio argued that such a motion should have come from the camp of the Vice President, not the impeachment court itself. But Escudero disagreed with his view.
“Ginagalang ko ang opinyon niya pero hindi ako sang-ayon (I respect his opinion, but I do not agree with it),” Escudero said in a press conference.
“Walang limitasyon ang impeachment court kaugnay ng pwede o hindi naming pwedeng pagpasyahan (The impeachment court has no limitations when it comes to what we can or cannot decide on),” he added.
Citing the Constitution’s provision that grants the Senate the “sole power to try and decide” impeachment cases, Escudero emphasized that the court may entertain any motion as long as it is subject to deliberation and vote.
“May mababasa ba siya at may maituturo ba siya na 'bawal itong mosyon sa impeachment court, bawal itong hilingin ng sinumang impeachment court judge?' Wala naman (Can he point to anything written or cite anything that says, 'this kind of motion is prohibited in the impeachment court, or that an impeachment court judge is not allowed to make such a request?' There’s none),” he added.
Escudero also noted that while Carpio is a respected former member of the SC, he is not one of those who will decide whether what the impeachment court did was right or wrong.
He also pointed out that no petition has yet been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the Senate's move.
“If anyone believes the Senate or the House committed a constitutional violation, they are free to question it before the Supreme Court,” Escudero said.
He mentioned that a case regarding the one-year ban on impeachment complaints is currently pending before the High Court.
Aside from the certification, the senator-judges also voted to the motion that seeks to ensure that the House of Representatives of the 20th Congress communicates to the Senate that it is willing and ready to pursue the impeachment complaint against the Vice President.

Related Tags

impeachment court Chiz Escudero Vice President Sara Duterte impeachment complaint
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