Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero

Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor believes that an lawyer-legislator like Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero as the presiding judge would work to the advantage of the Senate impeachment court once it convenes to hear the allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Defensor explained to House reporters Wednesday, April 2 why he thought this was the case.

"Magandang abogado po ang ating judge para mas maganda ang pag-appreciate ng evidence at hindi puro technicalities ang basis (It's good to have a lawyer as our judge because he will have better appreciation of the evidence and not solely use technicalities as basis)," he said.

Defensor--one of the 11 congressmen picked to act as prosecutors in the Vice President's impeachment trial--cited the quasi-judicial nature of the proceedings.

'Because remember, since an impeachment process is not a criminal proceeding, hindi po ganun kahigpit ang (there is less strictness on the) rules of evidence and the quantum of evidence that is required for a conviction," he said.

There are seven articles of impeachment listed in the impeachment complaint against Duterte--the second highest official of the land. 

HAVE YOU READ THIS?

https://mb.com.ph/2025/4/2/house-prosecution-team-80-ready-for-vp-duterte-impeachment-trial

The prosecutors only need to prove one of these allegations in order to get a conviction from the senator-judges, of which Escudero would be the presiding judge. 

Duterte's conviction will lead to her being unseated as Vice President. 

"Hindi po proof beyond reasonable doubt at walang makukulong dito sa impeachment trial na ito (Proof beyond reasonable doubt isn't needed, and nobody will be jailed as a result of this impeachment trial)," added Defensor.

In a criminal court, the judge cites proof beyond reasonable doubt in convicting a respondent.