SP Escudero on handing of impeachment raps: ‘Special ba si VP Sara?’

For Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Vice President Sara Duterte is just like any other impeachable officer in the eyes of senators.

“Ordinaryo lang kasi ito. Anong gusto mo, tratuhin naming special ‘to? Special ba si VP Sara para tratuhin naming espesyal ‘to? (This is just ordinary. What do you want, for us to treat it as something special? Is VP Sara special for us to treat this as special?)” Escudero asked in an interview over DWIZ on Saturday, Feb. 8.

“Tulad ng ibang impeachable officers lamang siya sa mata namin at walang dahilan para at walang dahilan para sa kaniya’y madaliin ito o dahil sa kanya’y ipagpaliban ito (She’s just like any other impeachable officer in our eyes and there’s no reason to rush or delay the process because of her),” he added.

Escudero stressed that senators will do what must be done correctly, without rushing but also without excessive delay.

He also maintained that he would not listen to those who were eager to start the trial just because they were against Duterte and want her impeached, the same way that he would not listen to those who oppose the trial because they support her and don’t want her impeached.

According to Escudero, these are partisan groups and individuals that should not be heeded in their pursuit of justice as well as in their role as an impeachment court.

So far, Escudero said that all senators have been given a copy of the impeachment complaint and he expects it to be published in the Senate’s website since it’s a public document.

Meanwhile, the Bicol lawmaker also assured Duterte that they would not be intimidated by her presence.

Duterte said in a press conference said she would not appear in the trial.

“Kasi baka ma-intimidate lang silang lahat sa presence ko (My presence might just intimidate them),” she said.

Escudero said that it’s within her right not to appear since under the Senate’s rules, the arraignment can be done in person or through counsel.

“Dalawa lamang naman ang exception sa pag-attend ng isang defendant, akusado, or respondent. Sa arraignment, kung criminal case yan, pero hindi kailangan sa impeachment o kung kailangan siya i-identify ng isang testigo para maturo in open court na siya nga yan, siya yung nandun (There are only two exceptions for a defendant, accused, or respondent attending: during an arraignment in a criminal case unless it’s an impeachment, or if they need to be identified by a witness in open court to confirm that they are indeed the person being pertained to),” he explained.