Chiz Escudero To Those Who Disagree w/ Impeachment Court Verdict: “Malaya po sila, puwedeng kwestyunin ito”

Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Speaks on Ruling of Impeachment Court to Return Articles of Impeachment

ESCUDERO – The Senate President gave a message for those who disagree with the impeachment court ruling in sending back the articles of impeachment.

The impeachment court recently convened on the trial against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. It was on Monday when Senate Pres. Escudero took his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court in Duterte’s trial. It was followed by the rest of the senators taking oath with their robes on.

Three (3) senators did not wear their impeachment robes for the trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. They were known Duterte allies senators Robin Padilla, Imee Marcos, and Cynthia Villar. On Tuesday, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano filed a motion to return the articles of impeachment to the House.

Eighteen (8) senators voted in support of the motion of Cayetano to return the impeachment articles to the House. Only five (5) senators opposed the motion.

Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero clarified that the move to return the articles of impeachment to the House does not mean that the case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is dismissed or terminated. According to him, it is an opportunity for the prosecution team to answer questions before the judgment of the Senate.

Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also gave a message to those who disagree with the ruling of the impeachment court to return the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. He stressed that they are free to question it before the impeachment court or the Supreme Court.

“Doon sa mga hindi sang-ayon, malaya po sila, puwedeng kwestyunin ito either sa impeachment court o sa Korte Suprema kung sa palagay nila may nilabag na batas ang impeachment court,” Escudero said.

Based on the report, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also reminded Sen. Risa Hontiveros that each court is a “class of its own” although there are a few precedents that an impeachment court should follow.

“Ngayon kung sa pananaw at palagay niya ay ilegal yan, ginagalang ko ang kanyang karapatan na kwestyunin na ito sa Korte Suprema. At anumang kautusan ng Korte Suprema bilang abogado, ako’y tatalima doon,” he said.

Amid the opposing sides in the Senate, Archbishop Socrates Villegas said that the delay of the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is “a sin”.