Senate President Francis Escudero yesterday said the upper chamber will not turn into a circus when it convenes into an impeachment court even as he shrugged off returning Senator Tito Sotto’s remarks about being open to being the Senate chief in the 20th Congress.
“Whoever will preside, if i were the one, I will ensure that order will be maintained so that the process will flow in peaceful and orderly so that our people will better understand what will be presented by both parties,” he told reporters in Filipino during a press briefing.
Escudero said the senators-elect joining the Senate in 20th Congress are veteran lawmakers and are familiar with legislation and parliamentary rules.
“I firmly believe that despite the impeachment… We still have some significant bills to pass. If we can sort out some of the pre-trial proceedings, we can finish this before the Senate finally looks at the budget for 2026,” he said.
As for a possible change in the Senate leadership, Escudero said: “We just concluded the elections, the wrangling, the noise… and you want to get them started again. Let a little time pass. Let the present congress come to a close. We have two more weeks and many more bills to pass.”
“That is where we are focused on… not the next congress,” he added.
Sotto was Senate President from May 2018 until the end of his second term as senator in June 2022.
However, Escudero reminded anyone seeking his position that as for now, he remains as the top leader of the chamber until the next Congress unless he is replaced by the majority.
“In the end, it is the Senate majority that will decide whether I stay or someone else takes the seat of Senate president,” he pointed out.
He thanked Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who preferred him to keep the Senate’s helm.
“That position is not unique. I believe it is a position, a perspective, and a conviction that every senator should hold because there are no specific qualifications for being Senate president. The only requirement is being a member of the Senate,” he said.
The incumbent Senate chief, meanwhile, explained that while a third bloc in the Senate is possible, the rules clearly define membership as either part of the majority or the minority.
Those who support the winning Senate president are considered part of the majority, while those who vote for another candidate or abstain are part of the minority, he clarified.
“It has nothing to do with administration versus opposition. I have seen instances where it was the other way around, the majority was in opposition, while the minority supported the administration. That is possible,” he said.
Discussing the impact of a Senate majority that is not aligned with the president, Escudero said it could mean longer deliberations to secure majority support for administration measures.
However, he expressed confidence that all senators, regardless of political alignment, are mature enough to prioritize the country’s welfare.
“I think we’ve outgrown that. I think we’re bigger than that. I think we can work beyond that and can see what is best for our people as we should,” he assured.
Meanwhile, Escudero also addressed the issue of some incoming senators being endorsed by Vice President Sara Duterte and maintained his advice that senators should avoid making categorical statements on impeachment matters until they see the evidence.
When asked if the endorsement could influence the senators’ decisions in an impeachment trial, Escudero said only the senators themselves could answer.
Historically, he said, endorsements do not guarantee loyalty, as politicians’ alliances frequently shift in the country.
He added that while the concept of “utang na loob” or debt of gratitude may exist, it varies depending on each senator’s circumstances.
