Escudero: Impeachment a legitimate process, not cause for alarm

Senate President Francis Escudero (File Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday underscored that impeachment is a constitutional process meant to hold public officials accountable, urging the public and lawmakers not to fear or politicize it.

“People talk about impeachment as if it’s something to be scared of or something to run away from. They should not,” Escudero said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

“It is a legitimate, valid proceeding, and we should embrace it as a mechanism to hold officials accountable — no ifs, no buts about it,” he stressed.

Vice President Sara Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives after over 200 of its members signed the complaints, documents of which were transmitted to the Senate Secretariat on Feb. 5, the last day of Congress’ session.

Lawmakers will return from their recess on June 2.

Escudero also addressed calls for a special session to handle the impeachment complaint against Duterte, clarifying that the Constitution outlines specific instances where a special session may be convened.

These include tackling urgent legislation, voting for a new Vice President in case of removal or incapacity, responding to a President’s incapacity, canvassing election results, or during a martial law declaration.

“Now, bakit hindi sinabi na kapag may nabiting impeachment complaint, eh dapat mag-special session kayo? Wala namang sinabi eh (why did it not mention about a pending impeachment complaint, and says that we should start a special session? It was not mentioned),” he said, dismissing suggestions that the Vice President’s impeachment should be treated as an exceptional case.

The Senate President, in consultation with the majority and minority leaders and with the consent of the House Speaker, can call for a special session, but Escudero maintained that impeachment should follow existing rules and precedents without special treatment.

Escudero assured that he remains focused on ensuring fairness in the impeachment trial, noting that past proceedings have affected the political careers of some lawmakers.

“An impeachment trial can make or break a senator. Some have thrived under the spotlight, while others became unelectable because of their performance — or lack of it,” he said.

Escudero reminded senators sitting as judges that their responsibility is to render justice based on evidence, regardless of public opinion.

“It is not our job to convict or acquit. It is our job to render justice, whatever that may mean. Some people will be pleased, some will be angry, but we must follow where the evidence takes us — nothing less, nothing more,” he added.