Escudero: Senate should 鈥榥ot rush鈥� to finish impeachment process
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero
—Senate Public Relations
and Information Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the chamber should complete the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte but “without rushing” the proceedings.
Duterte was impeached on Wednesday through a petition signed by an initial number of 215 lawmakers in the House, immediately sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate for a trial.
“Marapat na ngayon na nasimulan ito ay ito ay matapos, matapos nang hindi minamadali,” Escudero said at a Jesus Is Lord prayer event on Saturday.
(Because it was started, it should be finished, finished without being rushed.)
“Hindi namin trabaho i-convict siya (referring to Duterte). Hindi namin trabaho i-acquit siya. Trabaho namin tiyakin na magagawaran siya ng hustisya. Trabaho namin na tiyakin na magiging credible at kapani-paniwala at paniniwalaan ng sambayanan ang proseso,” Escudero added.
Article continues after this advertisement(It’s not our job to convict her. It’s not our job to acquit her. It’s our job that she will be given due justice. It’s our job to ensure the process will be credible, believable and believed in by the people.)
Article continues after this advertisementEscudero previously said that no impeachment trial against Duterte may be held during Congress’ break, which is set to end on June 2, giving only less than a month before the next Congress takes its seats.
READ: Escudero: Special session may not be called for Duterte impeachment talks
The senate president said that the chamber will only “do what is right” without regard for “partisans.”
“Wala kaming pakialam, sa totoo lang, sa mga nag-uusig o dumedepensa o anumang pananaw nila na may kinalaman sa pulitika,” Escudero said.
(We don’t care, frankly speaking, for those persecuting or defending or pushing whatever views they espouse related to politics.)
“Iisa ang bagay at layunin natin sa Senado: gawin kung ano ang tama at naaayon sa batas nang walang pakialam sa mga partisano na may sinusulong na kanya-kanyang interes o paniniwala,” the senate president added.
(The Senate only has one objective: do what is right and what is according to the law without regard for the partisans who are advancing their own interests and beliefs.)
