Jamaine Punzalan

Members of the Senate of the Philippines, led by then Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero,  convene as an impeachment court to try the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, June 10, 2025. Joseph B. Vidal, OSP/Voltaire F. Domingo, Senate Social Media Unit)

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PH SENATE- VP Sara IMPEACHMENT CASE

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178168261927620250611-senate-vp-sara-impeachment-SPRIB1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the Senate of the Philippines, led by then Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero,  convene as an impeachment court to try the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, June 10, 2025. Joseph B. Vidal, OSP/Voltaire F. Domingo, Senate Social Media Unit</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday the majority would elect Sen. Francis Escudero as presiding officer of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><p>The majority led by <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/gatchalian-elected-as-senate-president-in-congress-special-session-0921">Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian</a> amended on June 3 the Senate impeachment rules to empower the body to pick a different presiding officer in non-presidential trials. </p><p>The constitution mandates that the Supreme Court Chief Justice preside over presidential trials as in the case of former President Joseph Estrada, while then Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile presided in the case of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.</p><p>&quot;As per our consensus as of this morning, we will elect Senator Chiz Escudero, if we convene again as the impeachment court, to be the presiding officer,&quot; Lacson said. </p><p>&quot;Lawyer eh… at saka may experience na rin siya sa impeachment. Yun ang consensus namin as of this morning. Pwede magbago.  And si Senator Win mismo, Senate President ang nag-suggest din nun,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/16/lacson-senate-to-decide-conviction-threshold-in-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-1821">Lacson: Senate to decide conviction threshold in Sara Duterte impeachment trial</a></div><p>Escudero is one of five lawyers in the Senate, only two of whom belong in the Gatchalian majority.</p><p>Lacson maintained this was not a concession to Escudero for joining the majority.</p><p>&quot;No. Kami-kami yun nag-usap. Para lang maging smooth. Kasi alam niyo, &#x27;pag ikaw ang magpe-preside, kailangan talaga mayroon kang hindi basic knowledge sa law, yung rules of court, evidence,”  he said. </p><p>“Kasi once na mayroong mag-motion from either from the prosecution or defense, merong pagkakataon na kailangan mag-rule ka immediately, &#x27;di ba? Sustained, overruled. Hindi naman pwedeng kada motion, ibabalik niya sa body.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/16/sara-duterte-did-not-declare-52-firearms-in-salns-ridon-1937">Sara Duterte did not declare 52 firearms in SALNs — Ridon</a></div><p>Lacson said Escudero would be elected when trial begins on July 6, 2026.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>VILLANUEVA DEFECTION </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Similarly, Lacson dismissed ousted Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s claims that senators were pressured to bolt from his camp.</p><p>&quot;He&#x27;s entitled to his opinion… I think you should also interview Senator Joel kasi marami nag-transpire as he intimated to us although hesitating siya to share yung details ng usapan nila, but it says a lot,&quot; Lacson said.</p><p>Senators Miguel Zubiri and JV Ejercito also denied there were concessions made to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/joel-villanueva-special-session-senate-0918">Sen. Joel Villanueva</a> in exchange for his defection from the Cayetano camp. </p><p>“To be fair, walang sinasabing may konsesyon… Walang ganun,” Ejercito said. “I think it&#x27;s more yung concern for the Senate as an institution… Hindi na siya masaya sa nangyayari sa Senado. Nakikita niya na talagang apektado.” </p><p>&quot;Gusto lang po niya magtrabaho,” Zubiri added. “Talagang frustrated din po siya dahil sa pangyayari na hindi na tayo nakakatrabaho. Nakita niyo naman na kanina, ang dami niyang mga amendments na binigay sa mga batas. May panukala at naipasa natin &#x27;tong mga panukala sa tulong niya.”</p><p>“Senator Joel has always been known as being one of the trabahadors ng Senado. So sa tingin ko gusto niya talagang bumalik sa dati natin siyempre paggawa ng batas at,” he said. </p><p>With Ejercito, Villanueva, Gatchalian, and Zubiri now in one group, they have almost recreated their old Senate bloc known as the “Seatmates.” </p><p>Some senators credit Villanueva&#x27;s transfer to their long personal ties.</p><p>“Much credit should go to Senator JV Ejercito .They were close friends, so siya yung kinakausap ni Senator Joel,” Lacson said. “In fact, up until last night, hindi pa siya nakapirma. I think noong sinabi ni Senator JV sa amin, na it&#x27;s done, I think it was already past 11 in the evening.” </p><p>“Original seatmates kami noong 2016. Magkasabay kaming lahat naging senador,&quot; Gatchalian said. &quot;So I&#x27;m very happy na magkasama kami ulit at alam ko si Senator Joel very serious yan sa trabaho kanina. At ganiyan talaga ang dapat mangyari, trabaho na.”</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EcqENr6NT_U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Ejercito credited love for work and institution for the decision of Villanueva and Escudero to transfer. </p><p>“More than anything, yung sa institution &#x27;no. Marami na din nalulungkot dahil &#x27;di nagkakatrabaho,” he said. </p><p>&quot;The institution was damaged. So sa tingin ko si Sen. Chiz, Sen. Joel, being former Senate President and former Majority Leader, siyempre ano, iba yung love din for the institution kasi naglingkod sila dito as leaders eh.” </p><p>Lacson said he hoped Wednesday’s session would signal a “fresh start” for the institution.</p><p>“And sana everybody will cooperate, start cooperating including the members of the minority. Kasi wala na ring delulu, eh &#x27;di ba?&quot; </p><p>But Lacson is not optimistic about Cayetano&#x27;s offer of cooperation. “An offer is an offer. We want to see the actual action, you know, nung kanyang offer of reconciliation… Kasi the mere fact that they&#x27;re not here, all of them well, it negates whatever sincere offer he made this morning. I hope they will catch up this afternoon,&quot; he said. </p><p>Gatchalian said he would “reach out to the minority.”</p><p>“Hindi naman &#x27;to ah, majority lang &#x27;no. This is a Senate vote of 24 senators,” he said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/palace-acknowledges-gatchalian-election-as-senate-chief-1146">Palace acknowledges Gatchalian election as Senate chief</a></div><div><strong>— Report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yq-v-7pYDjo?&amp;t=11s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday the majority would elect Sen. Francis Escudero as presiding officer of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p>

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday the majority would elect Sen. Francis Escudero as presiding officer of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Lacson says Escudero to preside over Sara Duterte impeachment trial

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Lacson says Escudero to preside over Sara Duterte impeachment trial

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Published June 17, 2026 04:02 PM PHT

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Senate

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Senate impeachment trial

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