Sen. Chiz Escudero Elected as Presiding Officer in VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial
SARA DUTERTE – As he leads the impeachment court in the trial of the Vice President, Senator Chiz Escudero maintained that 16 votes are needed to convict her.
Sen. Chiz Escudero was elected as the presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court on the first day of the impeachment proceedings of the Vice President. Twelve senators voted for the election of Escudero while eight of them opposed his election.
Here are the senators who voted in favor and against Escudero’s election as the presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court:
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
The supporters of the election of Sen. Chiz Escudero as the presiding officer in the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte are all members of the majority bloc. Those who opposed his election are senators who belong in the minority bloc or also called the Cayetano bloc.
Escudero previously belonged to the Cayetano bloc before he joined the new majority bloc led by Senate Pres. Sherwin Gatchalian. Following his election as the presiding officer in the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, he spoke on the threshold for the conviction of the Vice President.
The 16-vote threshold is undeniably drawing different opinions from the people amid the unavailability of three (3) senators to participate in the impeachment trial as senator judges. Both Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta were arrested and detained for plunder while Sen. Bato dela Rosa remains in hiding.
Recently, Sen. Chiz Escudero spoke on the threshold for the conviction of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on the Philippine Star, Escudero stressed that 16 votes are needed to oust Duterte.
Two-thirds of the vote of all members of the Senate is 16. Based on the post, he stressed that 16 votes is needed to impeach Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
“No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of 2/3 of all the Senate members,” Escudero said.
Previously, the camp of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte spoke on the 16-vote threshold issue with regards to the impeachment of the Vice President.