Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday said he would focus on the pending impeachment proceedings and priority legislation if he remains the leader of the upper chamber in the 20th Congress.
“The impeachment, meaningful proposed laws that did not pass in the 19th Congress, and ensuring that the Senate remains open and a place the people can turn to for any grievances or needs,” Escudero said.
When asked about the House’s reported deferral in accepting the articles of impeachment, the Senate President said only the courts can determine the legal implications of that move.
He said that the Senate has yet to receive any formal communication from the House, adding that all proceedings should now go through official pleadings, not media or social platforms.
Escudero also reiterated that the impeachment trial could only begin in July with the new Congress, though certain actions were still allowed under the current 19th Congress.
He confirmed that the impeachment court issued its summons on June 10, a day earlier than scheduled, allowing for the legal timeline to begin.
“This is not the time for tempers to rise, to be irritable, or to get angry. What’s important is that the process is being followed and upheld,” Escudero said.
The Vice President has 10 days to respond to the summons, while the prosecutors have five days to reply if necessary. However, by the time those deadlines lapse, the 19th Congress would have ended, stripping the House prosecutors of legal authority to proceed.
Reacting to criticism from some lawmakers over the Senate’s handling of the articles, Escudero maintained that only the Supreme Court can rule on the constitutionality of the remand. He dismissed claims that the impeachment court’s actions were unlawful, citing its unique status as a sui generis body under the rules of court.
“We didn’t hide anything or keep anything secret. I didn’t want a caucus to discuss this because then we’d be accused even more of having a hidden agenda or secret talks. I wanted everything done in the plenary, so you could see it and watch it for yourselves. And you be the judge if there was anything improper or not,” Escudero concluded.
