Chiz assures Senate can push key bills despite impeachment trial

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

In a media forum at the Senate, Escudero said the chamber is working to balance its legislative and constitutional responsibilities, expressing confidence that both the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and the passage of priority measures can proceed without delay. (File Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday guaranteed that the Senate will continue pursuing meaningful legislation even as it prepares to convene as an impeachment court in the 20th Congress.

In a media forum at the Senate, Escudero said the chamber is working to balance its legislative and constitutional responsibilities, expressing confidence that both the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and the passage of priority measures can proceed without delay.

“Buo ang paniniwala ko na sa kabila ng impeachment… meron pa rin kaming maipapasang mga makabuluhang panukalang batas. Kung maaayos namin yung ilang mga pre-trial proceedings, matatapos namin ito bago tuluyang tutukan ng Senado ang budget para sa taong 2026 (I firmly believe that despite the impeachment… we still have some significant bills to pass. If we can sort out some of the pre-trial proceedings, we can finish this before the Senate finally looks at the budget for 2026),” he said.

Escudero said the Senate aims to conclude the trial phase before Congress goes on recess in October, noting that once sessions resume, the chamber is expected to focus on plenary debates on the 2026 national budget.

He also said that while the impeachment may dominate headlines, the Senate is also committed to advancing less-publicized but vital legislation that will benefit the public.

Before the 19th Congress closes, he said, the Senate targets to pass the bill on rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime, Rightsizing Bill, Judiciary Fiscal Dependence Bill, Right-of-Way Bill, bill on reforms to taxation of denatured alcohol and vapor products, and the Anti-POGO Bill.

When asked about the certainty of the impeachment trial moving forward, Escudero reaffirmed that the Senate intends to fulfill its constitutional mandate unless legally ordered otherwise.

“Kung hindi sang-ayon doon ang kampo ni VP Sara… may karapatan silang i-akyat yan sa Korte Suprema. Pero hangga’t walang temporary restraining order o kautusan mula sa Korte Suprema, gagawin ng Senado ang tungkulin nito (If VP Sara’s camp does not agree with that… they have the right to take it to the Supreme Court. But so long as there is no temporary restraining order or decree from the Supreme Court, the Senate will do its job),” he said.

The Vice President’s camp has a pending case before the Supreme Court questioning the proceedings, but the high court has yet to act on the petition.