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Senate President Francis Escudero answers questions from the media on October 29, 2024.
SeSenate of the Philippines via Youtubenate of the Philippines via Youtube
MANILA, Philippines — There’s no more turning back for Senate President Francis Escudero from his decision against convening an impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial while Congress is on recess, even if faced with public clamor.
“No amount of signatures will amend the law nor convince me to violate it by convening the impeachment court during recess and without complying with the requisite conditions precedent,” Escudero said yesterday in reaction to a campaign by religious groups and sectoral representatives to gather one million signatures to pressure him into starting Duterte’s impeachment trial immediately.
He pointed out that the impeachment process cannot be rushed to accommodate personal biases or political timelines.
“The law is not bendable and should not bow to anyone’s dictate simply because of their own desire, bias and timetable of wanting to rush the impeachment proceedings against VP Sara,” he stressed.
The House of Representatives transmitted the impeachment complaints against the Vice President to the Senate on Feb. 5, two hours before Congress went on recess to pave the way for the midterm elections.
Escudero said the Senate can start the impeachment proceedings only when Congress resumes session on June 2. Based on his timeline, trial will begin on July 30 or in the next Congress.
Meanwhile, the camp of the Vice President has raised the possibility of her conviction as five of the 23 senator-judges – including Escudero – could be her potential rivals in the presidential race in 2028.
“Let’s face it. Many senators have their sights set on the presidency in 2028, and they see the VP as a major obstacle to their political ambitions,” Raul Lambino, a senatorial candidate under the PDP-Laban party of former president Rodrigo Duterte, said.
“These senators stand to benefit politically if the VP is unfairly removed from the race through disqualification from holding public office,” Lambino said.
He expressed doubts that Duterte would receive a fair trial from an impeachment court presided over by senators with presidential ambitions.
The five senators he was referring to were Escudero who filed his candidacy in 2010 but later withdrew, and Alan Peter Cayetano who “sought the presidency in 2016 but opted” to be Duterte’s running mate.
Returning senator candidates Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao ran for president in the last elections in 2022, while Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is also reportedly setting his sights on 2028, if reports quoting his father, “plastics king” William Gatchalian, were true.
“Businessman William Gatchalian has been telling associates that his son, incumbent Sen. Sherwin, is expected to run for president or vice president in 2028, possibly alongside Sen. Risa Hontiveros,” Lambino said.
Last February, Duterte announced that she was still “seriously considering” running for president in 2028. “In fact, it is highly likely that at least one senator will directly benefit if the VP is removed from office,” Lambino pointed out.
Lambino served in the previous Duterte administration where he held key positions, including chief executive officer of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority and presidential adviser for Northern Luzon.
