Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday reiterated that the Senate’s handling of the impeachment proceedings will remain transparent and fully debated on the Senate floor.
“Nothing was hidden, you saw how the motion progressed, how it developed and was amended in order to find a solution that allowed us to move forward,” he said during an ambush interview.
Escudero said the repeated suspensions and extended debates during previous sessions demonstrate his commitment to openness in the legislative process.
He also maintained that there has been no shift in his stance and that all actions taken so far align with the principles of accountability and transparency.
“No matter what happens, the impeachment court will convene. The impeachment court will always convene. That was the subject of our vote yesterday and the agreement we reached. It must take place before we adjourn,” he said.
Escudero said no one should doubt his position, as he has consistently pushed for decisions to be made in full view of the public.
He confirmed that the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, will convene as agreed upon during the latest voting session.
The Senate chief acknowledged the possibility that any senator could raise a motion to terminate the trial or even to convict without further proceedings.
He said these scenarios are part of the legislative process and would need to be debated and voted on accordingly.
“Anyone can rise up and say, ‘Let’s skip the trial and convict her already.’ Then we would need to debate and vote on that. Anybody can say, ‘Let’s acquit her.’ But of course, that would be wrong, that shouldn’t happen,” he said.
Escudero said all possibilities, including unconventional ones, exist within the scope of parliamentary procedure.
When asked about the timing of the trial, he said it will begin in the 20th Congress due to time constraints in the current session.
He reiterated that the House of Representatives chose to transmit the impeachment case in the final days of the 19th Congress, leaving the Senate with little room to act.
Escudero added that his stance has been clear since February and remains unchanged.
