Robin Padilla Reveals Seeking Google’s Help To Understand Impeachment Legal Terms: “Nagtapos po ako ng criminology at U.P. rin — sa University of Prison”

Sen. Robin Padilla Questions Election of Sen. Chiz Escudero as Impeachment Court’s Presiding Officer

ROBIN PADILLA – The minority Senator revealed that he sought the help of Google in understanding legal terms about the impeachment.

The prosecution team’s much-awaited impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has finally began. On Monday, July 6, 2026, the Senate convened as an impeachment court and both the prosecution team and the defense team appeared at the proceedings.

The recent proceedings includes the senator-judges’ election as to who will be the presiding officer of the impeachment court. Sen. Chiz Escudero who is now part of the majority bloc was elected as the presiding officer of the impeachment court.

Twelve senators voted for Escudero while 8 senators opposed his election into the role. The minority bloc in the chamber opposed his election. Sen. Robin Padilla is one of those who did not vote for the election of the Senator who also led the chamber during the previous impeachment moves against the Vice President.

Here are the senators who voted for the election of Sen. Chiz Escudero as the presiding officer of the impeachment court as well as the senators who opposed his election into the role:

During the impeachment proceedings when the senator-judges voted for a presiding officer, Sen. Robin Padilla is one of those who aired his side. The minority Senator even admitted in his speech that he has sought the help of Google to understand legal terms with regards to impeachment.

Sen. Robin Padilla stressed that it should be the Senate president who will serve as the presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court. The actor-turned-lawmaker even included some jest in his speech.

“Kasi legal terms po ito. Hindi naman po ako nagtapos sa U.P. Hindi rin po ako nagtapos sa Ateneo. Nagtapos po ako ng criminology at U.P. rin — sa University of Prison,” Padilla said.

The Senator stressed that the law should not be bent. According to him, during his stint as a senator for four (4) years now, tradition has played a role in the proceedings in the chamber.

“Ang batas po ay precise. Hindi po ito pwedeng iba-ibahin o baluktutin. Kung ano ang sinabi lalo ng Saligang Batas ay sana po panghawakan natin. Ngayon, sa loob po ng apat na taon ko rito. Lagi pong sinasabi ‘yung tradisyon,” he said.

Sen. Robin Padilla stressed that many times, the tradition allegedly superpowered the rules in the Senate. According to him, he was left confused for so many times already on following the tradition versus the rules.

“Dalawang beses na po nagkaroon ng impeachment. ‘Yung unang impeachment, ang nag-preside ay ang Chief Justice, ‘yung kay Pangulong Estrada. ‘Yung sumunod po nandito na po ako nun. Ang nag-preside ay ang mahal na Bicolanong kaibigan ko, Sen. Chiz Escudero,” Padilla said based on the post.

Even prior to the Senator’s election, Sen. Robin Padilla previously said that it should be Senate Pres. Sherwin Gatchalian who should be the presiding officer of the impeachment court and not Sen. Chiz Escudero. According to him, the minority bloc will oppose if Escudero will be chosen.