Senate President Francis Escudero on Sunday reiterated that the Senate will adhere strictly to the Constitution, the law, and what is right, rather than be swayed by partisan interests or pre-determined positions on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“As a court, as the tribunal that will decide on this matter, we will not be swayed by them,” he assured.
In a live interview, Escudero emphasized that the Senate is prepared to fulfill its constitutional duty now that the House of Representatives has transmitted the articles of impeachment.
The Senate chief also pointed out that while the Constitution states “forthwith” and the House rules explicitly used “immediately” in referring impeachment complaints to the Speaker, the House itself delayed action on three complaints for over two months.
“They, as the complainants, didn’t seem to be in a rush. But now that it has been filed, they suddenly want everything to move quickly. That doesn’t seem right, and they don’t have the moral basis to take such a position against the Senate now,” he argued.
The impeachment complaint against Duterte stems from allegations of abuse of power and potential misuse of confidential funds, issues that have sparked political debates and intensified partisan tensions.
Escudero stated that while the impeachment process may begin when sessions resume in June, the actual trial, which includes the presentation and admission of evidence, is unlikely to start until the 20th Congress convenes after July 28.
He also advised the prosecution to focus on gathering evidence and preparing their case instead of rushing the process, emphasizing that they have had ample time to get ready and should not later ask for extensions or delays.
“Everything we do in the coming days will be guided by the principle that, as much as possible, I do not want to give anyone a reason to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court and halt our process just because we yielded to those who are impatient and in a rush,” he said.
Esudero also cautioned against using impeachment as a tool for political maneuvering and called on lawmakers and the public to let the process unfold based on evidence and legal arguments rather than political affiliations.
“We will not follow one side to the detriment of the other side. That is against the very nature of being fair, transparent and providing due process,” he concluded.
