Escudero to preside over VP impeach trial

MANILA, Philippines —  Sen. Francis Escudero will be elected presiding officer on July 6, when the impeachment court starts the trial proper of Vice President Sara Duterte, Sen. Panfilo Lacson confirmed.

“As per our consensus this morning, we will elect Senator Chiz (Escudero) if we convene as impeachment court,” Lacson said in a chance interview yesterday.

But he added: “That’s the consensus this morning. It can still change.”

The senators can now vote among themselves on who will preside over the trial, after they passed a resolution amending their internal rules on impeachment.

Lacson denied that it was part of the deal for Escudero to bolt the Cayetano bloc and join the new majority, emphasizing that the presiding officer should have basic knowledge of the law.

Lacson pointed to Escudero’s experience as the presiding officer when the Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate last year.

While Escudero convened the impeachment court last year, a majority of the senator-judges remanded the case to the House of Representatives, among other actions that stalled the trial and ended up in the archiving of the impeachment complaint after the Supreme Court junked it for violating the one-year bar rule.

It was Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian’s predecessor Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano who convened the impeachment court on May 18, setting the court calendar for pretrial conference to start today and trial proper on July 6.

The Senate President usually presides over the impeachment trials of impeachable officials below the President of the country.

Gatchalian, however, has expressed openness to yielding the presiding officer role to someone with legal experience like Escudero, who is a lawyer.

Another senator-lawyer, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, was also eyed as either presiding officer or “impeachment manager,” who has the functions of a floor leader during trial.

During Congress’ special session yesterday, the House of Representatives formally authorized its prosecution panel, alongside the team of private prosecutors, to act on its behalf during the impeachment trial of Duterte, following a motion from San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora.

As a result, the prosecution team, led by Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville Luistro, may simplify issues, secure stipulations and admissions of facts and documents, identify and establish the number of witnesses, set trial dates and undertake other actions necessary to facilitate the prompt disposition of the case.

The motion also authorizes the prosecution panel to enlist private counsel, experts and consultants.

For its part, the Palace believes Duterte should face the impeachment court and answer the allegations against her.

“It is just right (for Duterte to attend the proceedings) because if she is being tried in this impeachment trial, she should speak, explain and provide the appropriate response to clear her name,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing uploaded on YouTube.

Castro also allayed concerns that the trial might not push through because the Senate would be left with just 15 members if the nine senators linked to the flood control scam are arrested.

“For now, this should not be a problem because we still have 22 senators who are active and who are attending sessions,” she noted.

“We hope all of them will attend at the right opportunity and the right time,” the Palace press officer added.

Meanwhile, Duterte lawyer Paolo Panelo challenged Gatchalian to avoid being Malacañang’s puppet during the impeachment trial.

“To the new Senate President and majority, surprise us. Don’t let Malacañang dictate on you,” he said in a Facebook post.

After reports surfaced that Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio had not declared 52 firearms in their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, the Philippine National Police reminded gun owners to comply with firearms regulations.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said ownership of firearms is a regulated privilege under Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

“We urge strict compliance with all requirements on safe storage, documentation and lawful possession. Transparency in firearm ownership is essential not only for accountability but also for public safety,” he said.

“Regardless of status or position, all gun owners are subject to the same rules. The PNP enforces firearms laws equally and without exception,” he added.

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, a prosecutor in Duterte’s impeachment trial, said the firearms are among the properties they will request to be subpoenaed once the proceedings start. –A lexis Romero, Emmanuel Tupas, Bella Cariaso