Sen. Win Gatchalian Speaks on Presiding Officer for Impeachment Court amid Possible VP Sara Duterte Trial
WIN GATCHALIAN – The Senate President clarified that it is not yet final that Senator Chiz Escudero will be the presiding officer of the impeachment court.
The House of Representatives has once again impeached Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Currently, the Filipino people are on the watch if the Senate will delay the impeachment trial or will act on it immediately.
The upper chamber recently had a change of leadership. Senate Pres. Sherwin Gatchalian was elected by 13 senators which officialized his lead in the chamber following a leadership feud with former Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano.
Cayetano previously refused his ouster with 12 senators voting for all positions in the Senate to be declared vacant. The former Senate chief stressed that there must be 13 votes. Also, the new minority bloc believes that 12 votes cannot supposedly elect Gatchalian as the Senate President Pro Tempore then.
The June 3 Senate plenary session was controversial. The session resumed after Sen. Chiz Escudero unexpectedly attended the session amid the three-day absence of the then-majority bloc. The quorum of 12 senators voted to declare all positions in the chamber vacant and elected Sen. Win Gatchalian as the Senate President Pro Tempore.
Following the said leadership change, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano maintained that he’s allegedly the legitimate, legal, and moral Senate president. He maintained his claim amid the Malacañang, the House of Representatives, and several other entities recognizing the lead of Gatchalian.
Last June 17, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano conceded as the Senate president after a conversation with Sen. Joel Villanueva. The Pastor-Senator joined the majority bloc which gave them the numbers to elect a Senate chief.
Following the election of Sen. Win Gatchalian in the Senate presidency, Sen. Ping Lacson claimed that they are eyeing Sen. Chiz Escudero to preside the impeachment court. He stressed that it is because of the background of Escudero as a lawyer and his experiences in impeachment proceedings.
Sen. Ping Lacson also claimed that it was Senate Pres. Win Gatchalian who suggested for Sen. Chiz Escudero to be the presiding officer of the impeachment court. Amid the claims of Lacson, Gatchalian clarified that it is not yet final.
Based on News5, the Senate President said it is not yet final. He also clarified that it is not required that the presiding officer should be a lawyer.
“The Constitution does not prescribe any requirement on lawyers. In fact ang gusto ng Constitution as layman as possible ‘yung proceedings. This is a political process kaya mga senador ang hukom o ang judges… Ibinigay sa amin ng taumbayan ‘yung desisyon para gumawa ng tama at siguraduhin na ‘yung lilitisin ay maging patas,” Gatchalian said based on the post.
According to the Senate Chief, the requirement is to bring out the evidence and that the people will understand the process. When asked if he is capable of fulfilling the role, Gatchalian affirmed that he will do his best.
Previously, amid his detention as he faces graft and plunder chargers, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada insisted that he is allegedly still senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.