Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has called on his fellow senators to avoid discussing the potential impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Escudero emphasized the senators’ role as impartial judges in any such trial, stating that his primary concern is maintaining the court’s fairness and credibility.
He urged his colleagues to refrain from making statements about the impeachment before hearing any evidence or reaching a final decision.
“That’s why I’m reminding the senators to be careful in their statements regarding the impeachment, especially since they haven’t seen any evidence from either side nor have they reached a final decision on the matter,” Escudero, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said.
This comes as some senators, including Duterte allies, have expressed concerns and vowed to fight the impeachment.
Over 200 House lawmakers recently approved a resolution to impeach Duterte, paving the way for a Senate trial. A two-thirds vote in the 24-seat Senate would be needed to remove her from office.
Escudero anticipates the trial will begin in July, after President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address or SONA. Duterte has downplayed the impeachment, saying her lawyers have been preparing for it since 2023.