Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua (PPAB)

Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua on Thursday, Feb. 27, welcomed Senate President Chiz Escudero’s order to create a Senate support group for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Chua, one of the House prosecutors in Duterte’s impeachment trial, says Escudero’s move already sets in motion the impeachment process.

The move also “affirms our commitment to upholding accountability at the highest levels of government,” added Chua, also the chairman of the House Committee on Good Government.

“The House of Representatives, in transmitting the Articles of Impeachment, has fulfilled its constitutional mandate. Now, it is up to the Senate to conduct a fair and impartial trial to determine whether Vice President Duterte should be removed from office,” he said.

For Chua, Escudero’s issuance of Special Order No. 2025-015 removed any ambiguity regarding the Senate’s role in the impeachment process.

According to him, it reinforces that:

• The case cannot be dismissed arbitrarily without a proper trial;

• Any attempts to delay or derail the process must be addressed within the framework of law; and

• The public deserves a fair, transparent, and expeditious resolution to this case.

“We must allow the impeachment process to take its full course. The Senate, acting as an Impeachment Court, has a duty to the Filipino people to ensure that this trial is not only constitutional but also free from political maneuvering,” he said.

With a Senate that is now organized, Chua expressed confidence that the impeachment trial will now proceed with the seriousness and integrity it demands.

“The impeachment process is not just about an individual; it is about protecting the institutions of our democracy. Our people deserve leaders who uphold public trust, and this trial is a test of our commitment to justice and accountability,” Chua said.