Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday, July 21 reiterated his belief the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will push through regardless of the circumstances.

Escudero made the statement after a group of students trooped to the Senate to call for his inhibition as presiding judge of the Senate impeachment court.

The group, composed of youth organizations and student leaders from the University of the Philippines (UP), Ateneo de Manila, Rizal Technological University (RTU) and Dela Salle University, urged Escudero to step down as presiding judge to re-establish the legitimacy and credibility of the impeachment proceedings that was “lost in the recent overtures of political intrigue and horse-trading.”

“Hindi ko kailangan sagutin yung mga tanong na ganyan na pabalang galing sa mga grupo na nangungulit lamang at gigil na gigil na matuloy ng impeachment trial. Tutuloy at mangyayari yan ayon sa batas (I don't need to answer those questions that are coming from groups that are just whining and are desperate for the impeachment trial to continue. It will continue and happen according to the law),” Escudero told reporters at the sidelines of the unveiling of the Senate legacy wall.

Escudero said it was obvious that these groups were clearly in favor of impeaching the vice president and that they do not like the vice president.

“At sinabi ko rin ilang ulit na noon na sinumang pabor sa impeachment o sinumang pabor o kontra sa nasasakdal hindi namin papakinggan (And I have also said several times before that we will not listen to anyone who is in favor of impeachment or anyone who is in favor or against the defendant),” the Senate leader said.

“Gagawin namin kung ano ang tingin naming tama at naaayon sa batas (We will do what we think is right and in accordance with the law),” he said.

Patricia Racca, head of the Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK), said their group is calling for Escudero to step down as presiding officer of the impeachment court noting that the proceedings of the impeachment trial “have so far been intensely polarizing and have distracted public officials and the public from the heart of the matter.”

“As Senate President, recusing fom the proceedings of the impeachment court assures the public that the leading figure of the Senate will stand above the partisan politics that define the legislative process,” Racca said in their letter to Escudero.

“We believe that the delays in the start of the impeachment proceedings—whatever their reason—have damaged the legitimacy of the Senate enough to merit drastic measures on your part as Senate president to reassure the public that the impeachment court can carry out its constituitonal duty without fear or favor,” she said.

“If the Senate under Escudero still wishes to maintain its mandate to try this case without fear or favor, then the Senate President himself must take unprecedented action and recuse himself from the impeachment proceedings forthwith,” asserted SPARK national spokesperson, Milo Basuel.

But asked if the Senate impeachment court will stick to the August 4 schedule, Escudero said the matter will be discussed by the members of the Senate once they resume sessions.

“Pero yun ang tinatalaga namin dahil kailangang magbigay pa ng notice sa mga partido bago magsagawa ng hearing (But that’s the date we assigned because notice must be given to the parties before a hearing is held),” the Senate chief said.

The Senate will officially resume sessions when the 20th Congress opens on Monday, June 28, 2025.

By then, Escudero said the Senate will be focused on electing the Senate leader, and organizing the committees since there are new members that are now part of the Upper Chamber.

“Hindi naman pwedeng naisipan lang ng majority ng Senado, pag-open ng Senado eh, bukas na bukas din (gagawin ang impeachment trial). Kailangang may sapat na panahon para mabigyan ng notice yung mga partido (The Senate majority cannot just think of doing it upon the opening of the Senate, and hold the impeachment trial tomorrow. There must be enough time to give notice to the parties),” he said.

“Hindi namin trabaho na madaliin ito. Hindi porke’t nagmamadali sila ay kailangan narin namin magmadali. Gagawin namin ito sangayon sa proseso (It is not our job to rush this. Just because they are in a hurry does not mean we have to rush. We will do it according to the process),” he reiterated.

“Sinabi ko na sa inyo noon yan (as I’ve said before), the 19th Congress cannot bind the 20th Congress. The 20th Congress will have to make decisions all over again – not only the Senate, including the House (of Representatives).

“Kaya nga kasama sa order na binigay ng Senado sa Kamara, pagtibayin niyo na gusto niyo parin ito sa ilalim ng 20th Congress (That's why, in the order given by the Senate to the House, you have to affirm that you still want to do this under the 20th Congress),” he stressed.

Moreover, he said the Senate, as a whole, has to resolve the issue on whether the Senate of the 20th Congress has jurisdiction on the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

“Wala naman ako sa lugar na sabihing mali ang majority o kung anong gagawin ng majority (I’m not in the position to say the majority is wrong, or what the majority should do). The Senate is a deliberative body and we settle everything by a vote. That is clear to everyone concern,” Escudero said.

That is why the convening of the impeachment court would have to be decided upon by the Senate itself.

“The Senate and the impeachment court are one and the same, so pag-uusapan namin iyan (we will talk about it) without necessarily convening the impeachment court, I think,” the Senate leader reiterated.