Sen. Ping Lacson Says Sen. Chiz Escudero To Possibly Preside Impeachment Court
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The majority Senator is being eyed to be the presiding officer in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Escudero recently joined the ‘new majority bloc’ amid the issues in the Senate. He was the lone senator from the then-majority bloc who appeared during the June 3 Senate plenary session which led to a quorum of 12 that resumed the session.
Back then, the majority bloc was absent for three (3) days already. Sen. Chiz Escudero claimed that he is standing for the Senate in his decision to attend the session. According to Escudero who is a former Senate president, the situation in the chamber should not continue.
Then-Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies were absent for three (3) days. According to Cayetano, they are doing it to ensure that the chairmanships remain with them and the flood control hearing will be pushed through.
During the June 3 Senate plenary session, 12 senators voted to declare all positions in the chamber vacant. They elected Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as the Senate President Pro Tempore. Cayetano and his bloc opposed the leadership change.
Cayetano claimed that he is allegedly still the “legitimate, legal, and moral Senate president of the Republic of the Philippines”. He stressed that there should be 13 votes to oust him and to elect a new Senate chief.
Before the Tuesday session wherein Sen. Joel Villanueva joined the majority, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano conceded as the Senate president. The thirteen senators who were present at the session voted for Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
Sen. Ping Lacson commended Sen. Chiz Escudero and Sen. Joel Villanueva for standing to the “higher calling” of the Senate. According to him, the two (2) senators chose it over their friendships and alliances.
“I think I will be remiss of my duty and responsibility as a senator, colleague, and friend if I didn’t thank and commend our two distinguished colleagues, Senator Chiz Escudero and Senator Joel Villanueva, for responding to their higher calling for this chamber, known as the Philippine Senate, higher than their friendships, their affiliations and every individual of this body, even higher than themselves,” Lacson said.
Recently, Sen. Ping Lacson revealed that they are eyeing Sen. Chiz Escudero to preside the impeachment court and the possible impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on News5, Lacson said it is because of Escudero’s background as a lawyer and his experiences with impeachment.
“‘Yun ang consensus namin as of this morning. Pwede pang magbago. Si Senate President Win mismo ang nag-suggest nito,” the Senator said.
Based on the post, Sen. Ping Lacson denied that being the presiding officer of the impeachment court is part of the negotiation with Sen. Chiz Escudero when he joined the new majority bloc. The impeachment court is set to convene again over the case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte on July 6.
Previously, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano reacted to Sen. Chiz Escudero’s decision to join the new majority bloc.