ESCUDERO ELECTED PRESIDING OFFICER IN VP SARA IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

SENATOR Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday was elected by the Senate impeachment court to preside the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The Senate impeachment court voted 12-8 to elect Escudero as the presiding officer despite constitutional challenge.

Earlier Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and other senator-judges raised that the sitting Senate President should preside over the impeachment court.

“It is very clear in the Constitution of the Philippines that the presiding officer is the Senate President,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano also cited the Senate rules, which, he said, require that any amendment in the rules must be presented first on the floor a day before.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian  explained that the election of another senator to preside over the trial was allowed when the chamber amended the impeachment rules through a resolution on June 3.

Following his election as presiding officer, Escudero vowed to pursue impartial justice and not to serve any political agenda.

He said the impeachment court must proceed with prudence, caution, and impartiality, noting that the trial involves one of the most drastic acts under the country’s constitutional democracy  which is the possible removal of an elected official before the end of her term.

“As presiding officer I shall do my part to uphold the fairness and integrity of this process and shall see it through to its proper conclusion,” Escudero said.

He added that a conviction would require the affirmative vote of at least 16 senator-judges, based on the constitutional requirement of two-thirds of all members of the Senate.

Meanwhile, Escudero cautioned senator-judges, prosecutors, Vice President Sara Duterte, their counsels, and witnesses against publicly discussing the merits of the impeachment case, saying the trial must not become a venue for political theater or personal attacks.