Redemption or deja vu? Analysts weigh in on Escudero’s possible impeachment role

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Chiz Escudero’s possible second chance at presiding over the Senate impeachment trial may either become the redemption of his career or a “deja vu” of the first impeachment proceeding he presided over last year, political analysts said.

Escudero’s previous stint in the 2025 impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte was cited by political analysts as a basis for assessing the possible implications of electing him again as the presiding officer.

In June 2025, then-Senate president Escudero was criticized for allegedly delaying the proceedings of the first impeachment case against Duterte after the Senate returned the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives instead of conducting a trial.

He was accused by critics of allegedly violating the constitutional rule requiring the Senate to act “forthwith” on matters of impeachment.

The Supreme Court later stepped in on the issue, deciding that the term “forthwith” is not synonymous with the word “immediate”, but rather means “within a reasonable time, which may be longer or shorter, depending on the circumstances of each case.”

The possibility of electing Escudero as the presiding officer was shared by Sen. Ping Lacson with the media on the sidelines of the first special session of Congress on Wednesday, June 17. He noted, however, that the decision on this matter has yet to be finalized and formally discussed when the Senate impeachment court reconvenes on July 6.

Is it a correct move?

It was earlier confirmed by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian that they are considering either Sen. Kiko Pangilinan or Escudero as the presiding officer, given that both senators are lawyers.

Under recent amendments to the Senate rules, the presiding officer for the Senate impeachment court is not automatically designated to the Senate president. Instead, the post may be given to any senator-judge as long as there is a majority vote from the upper chamber.

On the other hand, Dennis Coronacion of the University of Santo Tomas’ Department of Political Science questioned this amendment.

“I question the wisdom of that resolution. Maaaring legally allowed pero morally speaking, is it a correct move on the part of the senators?” Coronacion said. “Siya ang principal actor kung bakit na-dismiss ‘yon at na-delay.”

(I question the wisdom of that resolution. It may be legally allowed but morally speaking, is it a correct move on the part of Senators? He was the principal actor why it [previous impeachment case] was dismissed and delayed)

Coronacion further added that with Escudero’s role as presiding officer, the public may even expect that the 2026 impeachment trial may be just the same as last year.

“Do we expect a deja vu or do we expect a different behavior on the part of Senator Chiz?”, Coronacion added.

Rehabilitation opportunity

Political analyst Ronald Llamas said that while the majority bloc’s initial decision is bad optics for them, electing Escudero as the presiding officer again may also become an opportunity for his political rehabilitation.

“Re-electionist sya sa 2028. Ito posible ang kanyang rehabilitation dahil bagsak na bagsak siya dahil sa mga nangyari,” Llamas said, citing Escudero’s “forthwith” issue and the cases he faces before the Commission on Elections and Ombudsman.

(He was a re-electionist in 2028. It is possible that this is his rehabilitation [opportunity] because he was ruined from his past issues.)

Llamas added that Escudero should perform better on his second chance as a presiding officer should he be elected because the public is expected to closely watch how he handles the evidence against Duterte.

“Dapat dalhin niya ito where the evidence will logically lead. Kailangan aprubahan niya as presiding officer ‘yung mga ebidensya, huwag harangan,” Llamas said. “Doon siya titignan ng buong bansa, ‘yung handling ng ebidensya.”

(He must bring [the impeachment trial] to where the evidence will logically lead. He must approve, as the presiding officer, the evidence, not obstruct them. That’s where the whole country will watch him, his way of handling the evidence.)