Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Speaks on Impeachment Case vs. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President expressed his stand on the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte following the Supreme Court ruling.
Prior to the opening of the 20th Congress, the Supreme Court has released its decision over the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The Vice President and Atty. Israelito Torreon among others have filed a petition before the high court seeking for the dismissal of the impeachment case against her.
The Supreme Court declared the impeachment articles against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte as “unconstitutional”. The decision of the high court gained different reactions from the people including the senators. It came ahead of the expected possibility of an impeachment trial of the Vice President in the Senate.
Following the Supreme Court ruling, the camp of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte maintained that they remain prepare to answer to the allegations in the proper forum. The decision of the high court came with a 13-0 voting among the justices. Duterte’s camp tagged it as another instance when the rule of law prevailed.
The senators are set to have a caucus this afternoon. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero who remains in his post after getting 19 votes recently spoke about the possibility that they will discuss the impeachment case versus Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. He also aired his personal stand on the matter.
Based on a report on GMA News, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero expressed his belief that it would allegedly be safer for the Senate to decide on the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte without convening as an impeachment court. According to him, if they will convene as an impeachment court before making a decision, it might be seen as a violation following the decision of the Supreme Court.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also expressed his personal stand that he sees no reason for the Senate not to follow the ruling of the Supreme Court in the impeachment case of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. According to him, the country might be viewed as a “banana republic” that does not follow the Constitution.
“Personally, ang posisyon ko bilang abogado ay ito: Nag-desisyon ang Korte Suprema, sangayon ka man do’n o hindi, dapat ito’y sundin. Kung hindi, magkakaroon tayo ng constitutional crisis at baka tignan tayo ng mga karatig bansa natin at ibang tao na isang banana republic kung saan sinusunod lang natin ang gusto natin,” Escudero said.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero further claimed that the decision of the Supreme Court is clear. Meanwhile, based on the report, the Senate Chief stressed that they will decide on the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte as a collective body.
“Ito ay pagpapasyahan namin pero wala akong nakikitang rason at dahilan personally para hindi namin sundan at sundin ito. Maliwanag ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema,” he said.
The Supreme Court clarified in its decision that it is not absolving Vice Pres. Sara Duterte from the charges filed against her. However, according to the high court, another impeachment complaint against the Vice President may only be filed starting February 6, 2026. Previously, Malacañang reacted to the ruling of the Supreme Court on Duterte’s impeachment case.