Chiz to House: Senate not a playground to run after foes

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday asked members of the House of Representatives to refrain from trying to use the Senate as a tool to go after political adversaries.

Escudero made the remark as he explained his vote for archiving the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“To the House of Representatives I say, do not allow yourselves to be used for the blind hatred and ambition of a few who did things haphazardly, gravely abused their discretion, and violated due process, rights under the Constitution as found by the High Court itself,” the Senate president said. 

“In spite of all these, you expect everyone to roll over in obedience. When we did not, you moved hell and high water to destroy personalities, malign reputations, and tarnish institutions," he added.

"To these people, I say this: the Senate is not your playground to run after your political enemies. We are not an accomplice in any grand scheme,” Escudero said.

Escudero also said that he is not willing to play such politician's game, stressing that he will “never bow to a mob [and] never cower to the shrillest of voices.” 

Sen. Imee Marcos, in explaining her vote to archive the impeachment, urged House members to replace Speaker Martin Romualdez.

 

“Sa mga mahal kong kongresista, may suggestion po ako. Ito ay suggestion lang naman ano, wag niyong masamain. Kaysa inaatupag ninyong palitan ang pinili ng taumbayan, binoto, at minahal, bakit ‘di niyo na lang palitan ang taong kayo naman lang ang pumili,” Marcos said. 

(To my dear congressmen, I have a suggestion. This is just a suggestion, don't take it personally. Instead of trying to remove a person whom the people chose, voted for, and loved, why don't you just replace the person you chose yourself?)

“Ayaw paawat ng iba sa kaka-flex! Ano kaya kung ang Speaker niyo na lang ang palitan niyo? Kaya niyo ‘yan,” she added.

(Others keep on flexing. Why don’t you just change your Speaker? You can do it.)

To recall, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Vice President was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

Duterte, in return, had entered a “not guilty” plea in the verified impeachment complaint filed against her, which she called merely a “scrap of paper.” 

Recently, the Supreme Court declared the articles of impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional, stressing that it is barred by the one-year rule under the Constitution and that it violates her right to due process.  

The high court said the Senate cannot acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings.

However, the SC said it was not absolving Duterte from any of the charges against her and that any subsequent impeachment complaint may be filed starting February 6, 2026.

The House, through the Office of the Solicitor General, then filed a motion for reconsideration, seeking to reverse the SC decision. The lower chamber argued it should be allowed to perform its exclusive duty to prosecute an impeachable official, and the Senate's to try the case.  –NB, GMA Integrated News