‘No amount of signatures’ can make Escudero rush VP’s impeachment trial
Senate President Francis Escudero (left) and Vice President Sara Duterte (Photos from NIÑO JESUS ORBETA and GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero is standing firm against rushing the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying that “no amount of signatures will amend the law nor convince me to violate it.”
He was reacting to the reported one-million-signature campaign initiated by the People’s Impeachment Movement, which is composed of various religious groups and sectoral representatives.
It is an attempt by the group to convince the Senate to convene as an impeachment court and immediately start the impeachment trial of Duterte.
But, according to Escudero, “No amount of signatures will amend the law nor convince me to violate it by convening the impeachment court during recess and without complying with the requisite conditions precedent.”
“The law is not bendable and should not bow to anyone’s dictate simply because of their own desire, bias and timetable of wanting to rush the impeachment proceedings against VP Sara…” the Senate chief stressed.
Article continues after this advertisementEscudero has repeatedly said that the Senate can only convene as an impeachment court in an open session.
But the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte were only transmitted to the Senate by the House of Representatives two hours before the upper chamber adjourned its session on February 5.
Congress will resume sessions on June 2.
Escudero’s proposal is to start the trial on July 30 or with the new set of senators sitting as judges in the 20th Congress.
With the support of 215 lawmakers, the House impeached Duterte for culpable violations of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.
Among the issues raised against her include the alleged misuse of confidential funds in her office and the Department of Education, which she previously headed, and her alleged kill threat against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, his wife Liza, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
