COMING from a failed bid to retake the senate leadership, Senator Francis Escudero suddenly emerged as a top choice to preside over the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
This comes as the majority bloc ‘agreed in principle’ to elect a presiding officer in time for the trial which could probably start in July.
No less than acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian’s bloc confirmed that they are considering former Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s suggestion to install a lawyer from within the majority bloc to “get the job done.”
Gatchalian however would neither confirm nor deny swirling rumors that Escudero would take the rostrum when the Senate again convenes as an impeachment court soon.
According to the acting Senate President, the 12-member majority has yet to formally deliberate on the matter of electing a presiding officer.
“We’ll discuss it. We’ll talk about it,” Gatchalian told reporters.
Interestingly, there are two lawyers in the majority bloc — Escudero and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the chief justice is constitutionally mandated to preside when the president of the Philippines is on trial. Interestingly, previous impeachment cases were presided over by the Senate, acting as impeachment court.
But with the amended rules of impeachment in place, a senator — other than the Senate President – elected by a majority vote would be presiding over impeachment proceedings.
Under the resolution that was approved on June 9, the chosen presiding officer “shall, for that purpose, be placed under the prescribed oath or affirmation by any person authorized by law to administer an oath.”
Escudero, who is also facing the possibility of being arrested amid alleged involvement in the so-called flood control scandal, abandoned the Cayetano bloc last week, to join the Palace-supported majority bloc.
