Sen. Imee Marcos Speaks on Senate Pres. Sherwin Gatchalian Not Being the Impeachment Court’s Presiding Officer
IMEE MARCOS – The presidential sister and Senator chided Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian not being the presiding officer of the impeachment court.
On July 6, 2026, at the start of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the senator-judges voted on the presiding officer of the impeachment court. With 12-8 voting, Sen. Chiz Escudero was elected as the presiding officer of the impeachment court. His election was opposed by all members of the minority bloc.
The minority bloc insists that the presiding officer of the impeachment court should supposedly be Senate Pres. Sherwin Gatchalian. Here are the senators who voted and opposed the election of Escudero:
Affirmative
- Senate Pres. Sherwin Gatchalian
- Senate President Pro Tempore Tito Sotto
- Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri
- Sen. Panfilo Lacson
- Sen. Kiko Pangilingan
- Sen. Bam Aquino
- Sen. Risa Hontiveros
- Sen. Joel Villanueva
- Sen. Erwin Tulfo
- Sen. Raffy Tulfo
- Sen. JV Ejercito
- Sen. Lito Lapid
Negative
- Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano
- Sen. Pia Cayetano
- Sen. Loren Legarda
- Sen. Bong Go
- Sen. Imee Marcos
- Sen. Mark Villar
- Sen. Camille Villar
- Sen. Robin Padilla
Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that he will not take the offer to be the presiding officer of the impeachment court if he will be offered. He stressed that it is against the law. Sen. Robin Padilla admitted that he sought the help of Google in understanding the legal terms and he believes that it should be Gatchalian, the Senate president, who should preside the trial.
For the majority bloc, the suggestion for Sen. Chiz Escudero to be the presiding officer of the impeachment court came from Senate Pres. Sherwin Gatchalian. Recently, presidential sister and Sen. Imee Marcos reacted to the Senate president not being the impeachment court’s presiding officer.
“Uy sobra naman kayo. Inaapi niyo naman masyado si Sherwin. Senate President namin ‘yan kaya lang ‘yan na nga ‘yung sinasabi ko nakakatawa tuloy ‘yung itsura niya kasi bakit dalawa sila doon sa itaas?” Sen. Marcos said through a video posted on her social media account.
Sen. Imee Marcos recalled during the time of the impeachment trial of former Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada. According to her, when the impeachment is against the President, there are two (2) people sitting on top during the trial as it should be led by the Chief Justice of the Philippines.
“Ito nga nakakatawa tignan kasi dalawa sila. Kung sana, eh, walang papel si Sherwin na aming Senate president, eh, bakit si Chiz pa ‘yung pinili? ‘Yun na nga ang mahirap, eh.Kaya nga pinag-uusapan namin na natalo kami sa boto. Ang sa akin naman kung napakaliwanag sa Constitution, ‘yung debate… Hindi na kailangan ilagay na Senate president ang uupong presiding kasi klaro naman na ang tanging exception lang kapag Pangulo,”
Moreover, Sen. Imee Marcos raised a question on why there are still debates as to who should be the presiding officer as she stressed that it is clear that it should be the Senate president. In her vlog, she claimed that there’s nothing to interpret in what the law states.
“It’s very clear. Ayan napunta pa sa alanganin ang pobreng Sherwin. Pambihira naman. Pagkatapos nun ginawa pa nila, they put it to a vote… Nag-umpisa sa mali, lahat ng susunod, mali-mali na,” the Senator said.
Previously, amid the minority bloc senators speaking on matters about the Constitution, Sen. Ping Lacson commended his fellow senator-judges for keeping their cool. Many speculations that he is allegedly referring to Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano crossed the surface.