Escudero renews word war with ‘hardheaded, stubborn’ House

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June 27, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero has renewed a word war with the House of Representatives, calling it out for being “hardheaded” or “stubborn” in refusing receipt of copy-furnished pleadings.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Escudero – who sits as Senate impeachment court presiding officer – was asked about the possibility that the House would form a new set of prosecutors when the 20th Congress starts without complying with the Senate’s order for the new House to “attest” to its willingness to pursue the case.

The Senate President did not mince words in criticizing the previous actions from the House, such as when it refused to receive impeached Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team’s formal entry of appearance ad cautelam or with caution on June 16.

The House was furnished with a copy of the pleading, but a handwritten note on the document read it was “refused to (be) received” by the House.

“Everything is possible. I don’t want to preempt the actions of the House – but just based on their stubborn hardheadedness, like when they refused a pleading, I wouldn’t be surprised if they do it,” Escudero said when asked if the House will defy the Senate.

“Gigil na gigil lang sila, sorry,” Escudero added, describing the passion of the House bent on prosecuting the Vice President on allegations of confidential funds mess, unexplained wealth, destabilization efforts, and death threats to President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“I just do not understand that they are the ones who want this to continue, and yet when it comes to receiving copies of formal pleadings, they make it difficult for the process servers to do their job,” Escudero said. “Can you believe that even the receipt of orders, pleadings, answers, and entry of appearance, they make it difficult?”

Escudero hinted that the Senate – when it convenes the impeachment court on July 29 or thereafter under the 20th Congress – has the power to impose disciplinary actions on the House prosecution team if it defies court orders..

Grave abuse

The majority wins – this is the reality in the Senate even when it works as an impeachment court, which can move to already dismiss the case against Vice President Duterte without going through trial.

But just because they can doesn’t mean they should, according to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Cayetano said the court risks committing grave abuse of discretion if it already moves to dismiss the impeachment case without going through trial.

Gravely mistaken

Escudero is gravely mistaken if he thinks that the Senate impeachment court could just dismiss the impeachment complaint against the Vice President through a simple majority vote, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) chairman Teddy Casiño said yesterday.

“To entertain or allow a motion to dismiss the Articles of Impeachment would not only be out of order but a blatant usurpation of the constitutional process and a betrayal of the Senate’s solemn duty as an impeachment court,” he said.

Meanwhile, former House deputy speaker Lito Atienza said removing the annual allocation of confidential and intelligence funds will shield taxpayers' money against potential abuses. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Delon Porcalla, Emmanuel Tupas