Sen. Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero was elected Presiding Officer of the Senate acting as an impeachment court and vowed to uphold impartiality and constitutional fidelity as the chamber opened the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“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 after his fellow senator-judges chose him to steer the trial of Duterte, the first vice president in Philippine history to face such proceedings and the only official to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives.
“I did not seek nor did I ask for this responsibility. But neither will I shirk from fulfilling this duty without fear or favor,” the veteran legislator said.
He then thanked his colleagues for their trust and confidence in choosing him to preside over the trial that has elicited intense national attention, historic comparisons, and sharp political divisions as the Senate assumes its role as an impeachment court.
Escudero emphasized that terminating an elected mandate before its term ends is “among the most drastic acts our constitutional democracy can undertake.”
“This is why the trial must be guided with prudence, tempered by caution, and marked with unquestionable impartiality. We must avoid even the appearance of impropriety and observe the cold neutrality of an impartial judge at all times,” he added.
“May I therefore caution my fellow Senator‑judges, the prosecutors, the respondent, and their respective counsels and witnesses to refrain from making any comments and disclosures to the public pertaining to the merits of the trial,” he added.
According to Escudero, the Vice President will be afforded the presumption of innocence, and it is up to the Prosecution to prove otherwise. “The burden of proof rests upon the Prosecution. It does not and will not shift.”
He further explained that while the Rules of Court will be liberally construed to allow both sides to fully present their case, this must not be abused. “The liberal construction of the Rules is not a license to ambush the opposing party, bypass due process, or introduce unverified evidence that would prejudice the fair and orderly conduct of this trial,” he said.
The Bicolano senator reminded his colleagues that impeachment is not meant to be political theater. “Impeachment is not a chance to settle political scores. It is not a stage for political theater or personal attacks.”
“Hindi tayo nandito upang itaguyod ang anumang pampulitikal na adyenda. Hindi tayo narito upang paglingkuran ang kagustuhan ng alinmang panig. Narito tayo upang alamin ang katotohanan, at sa pamamagitan nito, magpairal ng hustisyang walang kinikilingan,” Escudero said.
As historical background, Duterte is the fifth official impeached by the House under the 1987 Constitution. The first was President Joseph Estrada in 2001, whose trial was overtaken by the events of EDSA II. The second was Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez in 2011, who resigned before trial. The third was Chief Justice Renato Corona, also in 2011, who was convicted and removed from office. The fourth was Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista in 2017, who stepped down before the Senate could try him.
Duterte was first impeached in 2025, but the Supreme Court declared the Articles of Impeachment null and void ab initio, leading to their dismissal. She was impeached again this year, bringing the case now before the Senate.