Chiz to senators: Refrain from giving positions on VP Sara’s impeachment

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday echoed his appeal to newly elected and reelected senators to refrain from giving positions on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Escudero made the remark during the Kapihan sa Senado when asked about presumptive winners of the 2025 senatorial race who were endorsed by Duterte. 

“Inendorso sila ni VP Sara pero hindi galing sa kanila. So patuloy ang aking magiging panawagan sa lahat ng nakaupo at marahil papasok din na senador—presumptive senators ika nga,” Escudero said.

“Ayon sa rules sana iwasan nila na magbigay ng categorical na posisyon o sagot kaugnay nito hanggat hindi pa nagsisimula ang trial at wala pa silang nakikitang mga ebidensya pabor o kontra sa nasasakdal na si VP Sara,” he continued. 

(They were endorsed by VP Sara, but the support did not come from them. So my appeal will continue to all those currently in office and those who may soon enter the Senate—so-called presumptive senators—to, according to the rules, avoid giving categorical positions or answers regarding this matter as long as the trial has not yet started and they have not seen any evidence either for or against the accused, VP Sara.)

While some of the winners of the 2025 Senate race were endorsed by the Vice President, Escudero said the history in Philippine politics can show that an endorsed candidate could still turn his or her back against the person who gave the endorsement. 

“Nakita niyo naman sa social media na nagbago bago ng posisyon ang mga in-endorse dati, kinakalaban na nila ngayon ang nag endorse sa kanila dati, ‘yung kalaban nila dati kakampi na nila ngayon. So kung ang pagbabasehan ko ay kasaysayan, hindi ng partikular na senador, kasaysayan sa larangan ng pulitika ng ating bansa, nakikita natin na nagbabago bago yon,” he said. 

(You’ve probably seen on social media how those who were once endorsed have changed positions—they are now opposing the very people who endorsed them, and their former enemies have become their allies. So, if history is my basis—not just on any particular senator but on the political history of our country—we can see that these shifts in alliances are common.)

“To each his own. Nagbabago yan sa kada sitwasyon at sa kada tao,” he added. 

(It varies in every situation and in every person.)

The impeachment court is expected to convene upon the resumption of session on June 2. The 12 recently elected senators will join the 12 other incumbents in sitting as senator-judges for Duterte’s impeachment trial. 

Meanwhile, Escudero said the Senate has already prepared all the necessary arrangements for the operations of an impeachment court. 

“Mas mataas ang lebel ng kahandaan ng Senado, pati ‘yong invitations, ‘yung ID, ‘yung security preparations, ‘yung holding areas ng prosecution, ng defense panel nakahanda na rin hanggang sa detalye ng parking-an nila, hinanda na rin namin at handa na rin kami,” the Senate chief said. 

(The level of preparation in the Senate is much higher. We already prepared the invitations, IDs, the security preparations, the holding areas of the prosecution and defense panels up to their parking slots. We, ourselves, are also prepared for the impeachment.)

A dry run will be conducted after the Senate adjourns sine die on June 13. 

The crimson red robes that the senator-judges will use in the upcoming impeachment trial were also presented to the members of the media on Thursday. —RF, GMA Integrated News