Escudero mum on Palace exec’s impeachment remarks: ‘Just forgive her’
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero visits the annual mini-tiangge on the 4th and 3rd floors of the Senate building in Pasay City Monday, October 21, 2024. (File photo from Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Friday refused to comment on a Palace official’s opinion on how to fast track Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Escudero said he would just let press officer Claire Castro’s remarks slide.
Castro earlier said the majority of senators — not just the Senate leader — may proceed with sending a letter of request to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
This is so that the chief executive will supposedly order the convening of a special session for the impeachment trial of Duterte.
“Patawarin na lang natin siya,” Escudero said in a radio dwPM interview.
Article continues after this advertisement(Let’s just forgive her.)
Article continues after this advertisement“Baka bago pa at excited pa. At tila excited nga ata sya sa mga napapanood ko masyado,” the Senate leader observed.
(She might be new and still excited. And she appears to be overly excited based on what I have watched.)
“Hayaan na lang natin. Hindi ko na lang kukomentaryuhan na lang ‘yun,” Escudero shrugged off.
(Let’s just let it slide, and I will not comment on that.)
Castro, also in a dwPM interview on Wednesday, had said:
“Siguro, kung majority ang gusto na umpisahan na ang impeachment trial, mas maganda sila ang makipag ugnayan sa Pangulo. Sila ang sumulat.”
(Perhaps, if the majority [of senators] wants to begin the impeachment trial, it will be better if they will be the ones to coordinate with the president. Make them write.)
“Sila ang mag-request kahit hindi kumikilos ang Senate President.”
(They should make the request even if the Senate President is not doing anything.)
READ: Senate majority can ask for special session on VP impeachment – Palace
Escudero also refused to comment on the possible implication of Castro’s remarks, which can lead to his ouster.
“Hindi naman siguro,” the Senate leader said.
(I don’t think so.)
“Nakakaligtaan lamang siguro nya na sya ang tagapagsalita ng pangulo, na anumang sinasabi nya sa mikroponong ‘yun ay galing sa Pangulo, na duda ako na ang mga sinabi nya na ilan, kabilang na ‘yun, ay galing mismo sa Pangulo,” Escudero said as he expressed his suspicion and doubt.
(She might just have forgotten that she is the spokesperson of the president, that anything she said in that microphone comes from the president, and I doubt if some of her pronouncements, including that, came from the president.)
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte as 215 House members voted in favor of it.
If found guilty in a Senate impeachment trial, Duterte may be permanently barred from holding public office.
The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate for trial.
Escudero said the pre-trial will only start on June 24.
The votes of two-thirds of the 23 senators are needed to convict and oust Duterte.
