Afraid of Sara Duterte? Chiz Escudero says that's a 'bait' question

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Tuesday brushed off allegations that his supposed fear of Vice President Sara Duterte has resulted in delays in the start of her impeachment trial. 

"Pain naman ang tanong na 'yun. Ginagawa namin kung ano ang trabaho namin. 'Yung mga ganyang uri ng komentaryo at pain, uulitin ko—du'n sa mga ayaw kay VP Sara at pabor sa impeachment, do'n sa mga gusto kay VP Sara at tutol sa impeachment—walang bale sa akin 'yun," Escudero said in an ambush interview. 

(That's a bait question. We just do our jobs. That kind of comment and bait, I'll repeat—for those who don't like VP Sara and are in favor of impeachment, and for those who like VP Sara and are against impeachment—it doesn't matter to me.) 

He was reacting to the statement of Akbayan party-list Representative Perci Cendaña, who earlier asked if the Senate President is afraid of Duterte.

Cendaña, who endorsed the first impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte in the House of Representatives, had stressed that convening the Senate as an impeachment court is "a solemn constitutional duty, not a seasonal accessory you put on or discard depending on the political weather, or one’s personal agenda." 

Escudero, in response, said he would just follow what he thinks is right and what is stated under the law, regardless of who will be affected. 

"'Yung mga ganyang uri ng komentaryo, klarong nanggagaling sa kampo na tutol kay VP Sara at pabor sa impeachment. Hayaan natin dalhin nila 'yung kanilang opinyon at pananaw na 'yun," he added. 

(Those kinds of comments clearly come from the camp that is against VP Sara and in favor of impeachment. Let's let them have their own opinions and perspectives.) 

Escudero, however, once again lashed out at House members who want to expedite the impeachment proceedings, emphasizing that it took the lower chamber four months before sending the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.

"Kung sila mismo 'yung hindi nagmadali, inupuan, at pa-banjing banjing sa mahabang panahon, sino naman sila para madaliin kami ngayon? Hindi porket gusto nila, eh ganu'n na. At nung ayaw naman nila, e karapatan din nilang magpa-banjing banjing at i-delay 'yun," he said. 

(If they themselves didn't hurry; and instead sat on the complaints and waited for a long time, who are they to rush us now? It's not because they want to, we would just let them. And if they don't want to, they would just wait around and delay it.) 

Public interest

Opposition lawmakers and impeachment complainants from the Makabayan coalition earlier questioned if senators are protecting Duterte instead of the public interest.

This was in response to Escudero's statement that the convening of the Senate impeachment court for the trial of the impeached Vice President depends on the plenary vote of the senators, even though the Constitution states that a Senate impeachment trial "shall forthwith proceed" once a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the members of the House.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. — VDV, GMA Integrated News