Chiz Escudero takes oath as presiding officer of impeachment court in VP Sara trial

Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday night took his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The Senate also adopted Sen. Joel Villanueva's motion that the rest of the senators take their oaths as senator-judges in the impeachment trial at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

After the senators take their oaths, the court would be constituted but not yet convened, Villanueva said in his motion, which was approved.

Earlier, the Senate voted unanimously to refer the verified impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the committee on rules.

Villanueva made the motion for the referral after senators discussed during the suspension of the session Senator Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III's motions calling for, among other things, the convening of the Senate as an impeachment court.

Pimentel on Monday afternoon moved for the Senate to convene itself into an impeachment court for the trial of the impeached Vice President Sara Duterte.

In his privileged speech during the plenary session, Pimentel moved for the following: 

• that the Senate’s legislative business be suspended;
• that the Senate already convene as an impeachment court at this very moment;
• that the Senate President immediately take his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court;
• that the Senate President/presiding officer administer the oath or affirmation to all the members of the Senate now present;
• that the impeachment court then call the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte and come up with a calendar for the trial;
• that on June 10, 2025, at 2 p.m. the impeachment court call the impeachment case for the presentation and reading of the articles of impeachment by the panel of prosecutors of the House of Representatives; and
• that a writ of summons be issued to the impeached officer.

Senator Risa Hontiveros seconded the motion. 

“Trial is the most fair course of action because the people need to know if their representatives acted properly and justly, by hearing the evidence used by them in filing the impeachment case, and, in the name of due process, we need to give the impeached officer the chance to defend himself or herself and clear his or her name,” Pimentel said. 

The Senate minority leader also underscored the importance of starting the trial proceedings as mandated by the Constitution. The verdict on whether Duterte is guilty or not, he said, would only be made after the trial.

Hontiveros, in seconding the motion, said that the Senate should start Duterte’s impeachment trial “forthwith and with no further delay.” 

“Hindi po mahirap intindihin ang utos, sa sinumang tapat ang intensyong sundin ito. Ang paglilitis ay dapat agarang simulan, nang walang pag-iwas o iba pang pagpapaliban,” Hontiveros said. 

(The rule is not difficult to understand, for anyone who has the sincere intention of obeying it. The trial must begin immediately, without avoidance or further delays.)

“I am here before you to also appeal to the deeper purpose of the law. And the spirit of the impeachment power is unmistakable: it is accountability. It is to ensure that no public officer, however powerful, is above the Constitution,” she added. 

Article XI Section 3(4) of the 1987 Constitution states that: “In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.” 

Duterte allies

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, meanwhile, made a manifestation that he will support Escudero whether the impeachment court will be convened within the day or on Wednesday, June 11. 

“Sana mapag-usapan natin ngayon. Hindi ako abogado, pero ako ay isang Pilipino na gusto sana na hindi na tayo magkakagulo sa Pilipinas,” he said. 

(I hope we can settle this today. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm a Filipino who wants no conflict in the Philippines.) 

Regardless, Dela Rosa said that the sentiments of those who do not want the impeachment trial to proceed should also be listened to. 

“‘Yung mga nagyayabang diyan na sabi nila, gusto daw ng taumbayan, na ito ay talagang magkakaroon ng impeachment… I don't know kung sinong taumbayan ang sinasabi nila because alam ko Mr. President, halos lahat ng tao sa Mindanao at Visayas, as I have observed during the campaign period, ang sabi sa atin is, ‘Sir, Iboboto kita kung hindi ka magboto sa impeachment or hindi ka magboto sa conviction,’” he added. 

(Those who are boasting that the people want the impeachment… I don't know which people they are talking about because I know Mr. President, almost all the people in Mindanao and Visayas, as I have observed during the campaign period, told me that they would vote for me if I would vote against the impeachment or Duterte’s conviction.) 

Sen. Robin Padilla, who earlier filed a resolution seeking to declare as terminated the impeachment proceedings against Duterte, also stressed the need to follow due process when it comes to the trial. 

“Bakit naman sa oras na ito tayo gagawa ng isang bagay na katulad din ng sinabi ni Senator Bato dela Rosa, talaga po bang tayo ay gusto nating magkahiwa-hiwalay na talaga? ‘Yun po bang bansa natin talaga gusto na nating gutay-gutayin? Kung meron po tayong gustong baguhin, hindi dapat siguro ‘yan sa oras na ito, sa panahon na ito, at sa pagkakataong ito,” Padilla said. 

(Why are we going to do something, just like what Senator Bato dela Rosa said, that can divide us? Do we really want to tear apart our country? If there’s something we want to change, maybe it shouldn't be at this time.) –NB, GMA Integrated News