MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has downplayed concerns over the possible election of Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero as presiding officer in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the matter should be left to the Senate.

In a report, it said that in a press conference in Kazan, Russia, Marcos said the earlier suspension of Duterte’s impeachment proceedings in 2025 was due to a Supreme Court ruling declaring the process unconstitutional, and not because of Escudero’s actions.

“That had nothing to do with Senator Chiz,” the President said.

“So in terms of his ability to be able to run the trial, I don’t think that’s in doubt,” he added.

The issue arose after Sen. Panfilo Lacson said members of the Senate majority bloc had initially agreed to support Escudero’s election as presiding officer of the impeachment court, citing his legal background and prior experience in impeachment proceedings.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, however, said he would not preempt discussions among senators on the matter, noting that under Senate rules, the Senate President presides over impeachment trials unless the chamber decides otherwise.

Escudero previously served as presiding officer of the impeachment court in 2025 when he was Senate President.

Marcos said criticisms about Escudero allegedly delaying past impeachment proceedings were merely “opinions” and should not affect his potential role.

“I don’t think that reflects in any way on what, how he will do,” he said.

He also noted that the Senate itself adopted the rules used in the previous impeachment proceedings, which he said were authored by Escudero during his earlier term as presiding officer.

“As a matter of fact…the rules that were adopted by the Senate were the rules that Senator Chiz wrote during the last year’s impeachment, when they were handling the last year’s impeachment complaint,” Marcos said.

The President said he would support whoever the Senate chooses, provided the process is lawful and constitutional.

“As long as the process that they undertook in making the choice is proper, is legal, is constitutional, then that’s fine with me,” he said.

“I will definitely do whatever I can to work together with the legislature, with the Senate in particular, to make sure that things go smoothly. And that we move away from the chaos that we have been seeing in the Senate, and I hope that the new reorganization will achieve that,” he added.

Lacson said Escudero’s election to the post may take place when the Senate impeachment court convenes on July 6, 2026.

The impeachment case against the Vice President includes accusations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes.