Sen. Chiz Escudero. Photo: Senate/Facebook 

MANILA, Philippines –  Senate President Chiz Escudero said rules on impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte must now be drafted but will only be final once they get presented to the plenary for approval. 

“Ano mang pag-aaral kaugnay ng rules dapat ginagawa na ‘yan ngayon. Ano mang hindi pagkakasundo kaugnay sa rules magandang mapagkasunduan na ngayon para ‘pag nag-resume kami ay mas smooth na mas swabe na ‘yung prosesong gagawin namin,” he said Monday. 

Escudero clarified that the rules of impeachment are under plenary approval while the calendar is subject to the approval of the impeachment court. 

“Yung rules, Senate sitting as a plenary, as a Senate ang mag-de-decide niyan. Yung calendar impeachment court ang magpapasya niyan,” he said. 

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel recently met with Escudero and offered to help draft the proposed rules and expressed willingness to devote time to finishing the job despite being busy campaigning for a House seat as the representative of the 1st District of Marikina. 

Being a lawyer and a Bar top-notcher, Escudero welcomed the former’s offer and has already referred the matter to the Senate’s legal team for action. 

The Committee on Rules will present the new set of rules to the plenary for approval or amendment. While being a member of the committee, it is not final yet whether Pimentel will be the one to lead the drafting or its chairperson, Sen. Francis Tolentino. 

“Hindi ko naman sinasabing si Sen. Koko and mag-le-lead. Rules committee ‘yan as a general rule dahil siya ang mag-de-defend sa floor pero tinutulungan na ‘yan ng legal team ng senado na magbigay ng mga panukala para matalakay ‘yan sa plenaryo at isa-isang i-pe-present ‘yan sa plenaryo,” he said. 

“Committee on rules ang mag-pe-present nyan,” he said. 

Escudero also sees no problem should Pimentel lead the drafting of rules even if he’s busy with campaigning since “things are moving now as we speak. 

Forthwith 

Even if the Supreme Court defines trials proceeding “forthwith” in the Constitutional provision concerning impeachment, Escudero maintains it is still not possible to convene the Senate as an impeachment court because of the pre-trial procedures that needs to conclude first. 

“Bukas hindi namin kayang gawin ‘yun dahil wala pang sagot ang nasasakdal. Wala pang reply ang prosecution, wala pang preliminary conference, so anong i-o-order nila sa amin specifically,” he said. 

“Ayokong pangunahan ang Korte,” he said. 

A number of lawmakers, especially members of the House of Representatives, pressured Escudero to convene the Senate as an impeachment court arguing that trial can proceed even in Congress recess, which he disagreed with from the very beginning. 

“Kaya ‘yung sinasabi ng ilang prosecutors, mukhang hindi nila alam ‘yung rules. Hindi namin kayang gawin  ‘yun kahit simulan namin ‘yung proseso,” he said. 

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