Chiz tells senators: Refrain from commenting on impeachment moves vs. VP Sara

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Wednesday advised his colleagues in the Upper Chamber to refrain from issuing remarks with regard to the supposed impeachment moves against Vice President Sara Duterte.

In an interview, Escudero said an impeachment complaint might reach the Senate, which they will try and decide on.

"Hindi ako pwedeng magsalita niyan at nais ko rin paalalahanan ang aming mga kasamahan sa Senado na huwag magsalita kaugnay sa anumang kuwento o tsismis sa usaping impeachment," Escudero said.

(I am not allowed to comment on that, and I would also like to remind my fellow senators not to discuss any stories or rumors about impeachment.)

"Dahil ayon sa batas, posibleng makarating 'yan sa Senado at hindi magandang pinapangunahan ng sinumang miyembro ng Senado ang anumang usapin o impeachment na maaaring makarating sa aming mga lamesa at tanggapan at institusyon," he added.

(According to the law, it's possible for an impeachment complaint to reach the Senate, and it wouldn't be good for any Senate member to preemptively tackle any issue or impeachment that may land on our desks, offices, and our institution.)

He added, "Kung matuloy 'yan at kung makarating sa amin, uupo kami bilang mga mahistrado at hindi magandang may masabihang miyembro ng Senado na pre-judged o mayroon nang kapasyahan bago pa man dumating dito ang anumang kaso."

(If that pushes through and reaches us, we will sit as judges and it's not good for a senator to be perceived as prejudiced or already made up their mind before a case even reaches the Senate.)

Not bothered

However, Escudero agreed that the time of both the House of Representatives and the Senate would be wasted on such impeachment moves.

In an interview at the Senate on Tuesday, Duterte said some members of the House of Representatives are planning to file an impeachment complaint against her.

Duterte said certain House members wanted "to project the family as corrupt, as criminals, as walang kuwentang mga tao kung di para sa pansarili lang nila (useless people who only do things for themselves)."

Duterte said she was not bothered by the impeachment rumors, noting that initially did not plan to run for vice president.

"I am not all bothered. I am bothered na gusto nilang i-frustrate ang pinili ng mga tao na maging [that they want to frustrate whom the people chose to be the] Vice President all because of power and politics," Duterte said.

In November 2023, House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list representative Erwin Tulfo denied that members of the House were talking about filing an impeachment complaint against the Vice President.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier said Sara does not deserve to be impeached, amid the claim of a lawmaker that some members of the House of Representatives were talking about it. — VDV, GMA Integrated News