MANILA, June 4 (Mabuhay) — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday brushed off allegations that his supposed fear of Vice President Sara Duterte has resulted in delays in the start of her impeachment trial. 

“Pain naman ang tanong na ‘yun. Ginagawa namin kung ano ang trabaho namin. ‘Yung mga ganyang uri ng komentaryo at pain, uulitin ko—du’n sa mga ayaw kay VP Sara at pabor sa impeachment, do’n sa mga gusto kay VP Sara at tutol sa impeachment—walang bale sa akin ‘yun,” Escudero said in an ambush interview. 

He was reacting to the statement of Akbayan party-list Representative Perci Cendaña, who earlier asked if the Senate President is afraid of Duterte.

Cendaña, who endorsed the first impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte in the House of Representatives, had stressed that convening the Senate as an impeachment court is “a solemn constitutional duty, not a seasonal accessory you put on or discard depending on the political weather, or one’s personal agenda.” 

Escudero, in response, said he would just follow what he thinks is right and what is stated under the law, regardless of who will be affected. 

“‘Yung mga ganyang uri ng komentaryo, klarong nanggagaling sa kampo na tutol kay VP Sara at pabor sa impeachment. Hayaan natin dalhin nila ‘yung kanilang opinyon at pananaw na ‘yun,” he added. 

Escudero, however, once again lashed out at House members who want to expedite the impeachment proceedings, emphasizing that it took the lower chamber four months before sending the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.

“Kung sila mismo ‘yung hindi nagmadali, inupuan, at pa-banjing banjing sa mahabang panahon, sino naman sila para madaliin kami ngayon? Hindi porket gusto nila, eh ganu’n na. At nung ayaw naman nila, e karapatan din nilang magpa-banjing banjing at i-delay ‘yun,” he said. 

Public interest

Opposition lawmakers and impeachment complainants from the Makabayan coalition earlier questioned if senators are protecting Duterte instead of the public interest.

This was in response to Escudero’s statement that the convening of the Senate impeachment court for the trial of the impeached Vice President depends on the plenary vote of the senators, even though the Constitution states that a Senate impeachment trial “shall forthwith proceed” once a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the members of the House.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. (MNS)