Metro Manila, Philippines — Senator Robin Padilla on Monday, June 22, said Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian should preside over the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, rejecting plans to elect Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero for the role.
In a chance interview with reporters, Padilla said the minority bloc should oppose any move to elect Escudero, although he clarified that the group has yet to discuss the matter.
“Kailangan naming i-oppose ‘yun bilang kami ay minorya,” Padilla said, citing the minority’s role in providing checks and balances.
“Kasi sa Constitution ang nakalagay doon ang dapat mag-preside eh Senate President,” he added.
The 1987 Constitution explicitly states that the chief justice shall preside when the president is on trial but does not provide a similar requirement for the impeachment trials of other officials. On June 3, the Senate adopted a resolution allowing the chamber to elect a presiding officer for the trial.
Padilla said it was ironic that members of the majority bloc were pushing for a different presiding officer. Senator Ping Lacson earlier mentioned plans to elect Escudero, though nothing was final as yet.
“Dapat yung majority ine-encourage nila dapat si SP Win. Para sa akin nadedegrade ’yung tao e,” Padilla said.
[Translation: The majority should encourage Senate President Win. For me, the person would be degraded (if he won’t be presiding officer.]
Gatchalian, meanwhile, said he expects to preside over the trial, noting that there have been no discussions suggesting otherwise.
“Wala pang pag-uusap,” he said.
[Translation: No discussions yet.]
The impeachment trial will begin on July 6.
