Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Speaks on Calls for Him To Inhibit from VP Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Trial
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President turned down the calls for him to inhibit from the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Countless Filipinos have different viewpoints over the looming impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. There are those who call for the Senate to rush its start while there are those who want the impeachment case against the Vice President dismissed.
There are also people who are already in doubts if there would still be a trial or not. Sen. Joel Villanueva recently claimed that the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is eyed to start on August 4 but there are still no confirmation to it while the plenary has yet to officially decide on the matter.
The Senate impeachment court previously ruled for the return of Duterte’s impeachment to the House of Representatives. It is over the questions of constitutionality of the impeachment. The Senate impeachment court also sought for a reconfirmation from the 20th Congress.
Eighteen senator judges approved the return of the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives while five senator judges were against the motion. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero claimed that the return of Duterte’s impeachment does not mean a dismissal or termination of the impeachment case against the Vice President.
YES
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Robin Padilla
- Bong Revilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
NO
- Koko Pimentel
- Risa Hontiveros
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Grace Poe
- Nancy Binay
Following the alleged delays over the start of the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, there are calls for Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero to inhibit from the impeachment trial. He’s also accused of being allegedly biased over the case. Recently, the Senate Chief who is poised to lead the chamber in the 20th Congress reacted to the calls for him.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero refused to inhibit from the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Senate Chief stressed that being fair is applying the rule without exemption regardless of who is involved. He does not find it fair to inhibit from the trial.
“Klaro ang kanilang gusto mangyari, at hindi porket hindi sumasangayon sa kanila o sumusunod sa kanila, eh hindi na patas,” he said.
Based on the report, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also claimed that based on the recent order of the Supreme Court, the Senate and the High Court have five (5) similar questions to the House prosecution team over Duterte’s impeachment.
“Kulang-kulang kalahati, pareho ang tinanong ng Senado sa Kamara at tinanong ng Korte Suprema. Maliban na lang siyempre kung ang tingin na naman nila sa Korte Suprema ay hindi rin patas,” the Senate President said.
Escudero also explained that all the parties involved have to be notified and given the time to prepare, thus, they eye August 4 as the start of the impeachment trial. Based on the report, he also stressed that the 20th Congress would have to make decisions all over again as the 19th Congress cannot bind the 20th Congress.
Previously, the spokesperson of the OVP claimed that the Philippines will be able to save millions of money if Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment case will be dismissed.