Senate majority picks Escudero to preside over Sara Duterte trial

MANILA, Philippines— The new majority bloc in the Senate has agreed to designate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero as presiding officer in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Escudero’s designation as the presiding officer will be made official when the impeachment court convenes on July 6,  Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Wednesday as Congress convened into a special session.

READ: Erwin Tulfo says Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial may start on July 6

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“As per our consensus as of this morning, we will elect Sen. Chiz Escudero if we convene again as the impeachment court to be the presiding officer,”  Lacson said.

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According to Lacson, the proposal came from Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

“That is our consensus as of this morning, but it may still change,” he said.

READ: Senate invites parties, sets June 18 impeachment pre-trial conference

But why Escudero?

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Lacson said Escudero was chosen not only because he is a lawyer but also because of his experience in impeachment proceedings.

He rejected suggestions that the move was a quid pro quo for Escudero’s decision to join the new Senate majority.

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“No, we discussed it among ourselves just to keep things smooth.”

READ: Senate urged to open Duterte impeachment pre-trial meet to public

Escudero had been aligned with former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s bloc until he attended the June 3 Senate session that led to a leadership shake-up in the chamber,

During that session, key Senate posts were declared vacant, and Gatchalian was elected Senate president pro tempore.

Gatchalian officially took over Cayetano’s post in a special session of Congress called by the President this Wednesday and attended by another Cayetano ally,  Sen. Joel Villanueva.

Meanwhile,  Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri confirmed that Escudero rejected the offer to become the Senate president pro tempore.

“He [Escudero] was the first choice,” Zubiri said in a message to reporters.

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It was Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III who was later elected to the second-highest post in the chamber. /dp /atm