Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Rowegie Abanto

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<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/1783326306725739276850_1447190127433709_8519235916323316215_n (12).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Senate impeachment court on Monday elected Sen. Francis Escudero as the presiding officer of the body for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, replacing Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. Members of the Senate convene as an impeachment court for the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 6, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(2nd UPDATE) </strong>— The Senate impeachment court on Monday elected Sen. Francis Escudero its presiding officer for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, replacing Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/senate-impeachment-court-begins-historic-sara-duterte-trial-0848">Senate impeachment court opens historic Sara Duterte trial</a></div><p>Escudero&#x27;s designation as chair of the court ends speculations that he would eventually preside over the trial, an option that was made available by an amendment to the rules last month. </p><p>In his speech, Escudero vowed that the court would be &quot;guided with prudence, tempered with caution, and marked with unquestionable impartiality&quot; in conducting the months-long proceedings.</p><p>He said senator-judges &quot;must avoid even the appearance of impropriety and observe the cold neutrality of an impartial judge at all times.&quot;</p><p>He also clarified that he &quot;did not seek nor did I ask for this responsibility,&quot; while also stressing he would fulfill his duty &quot;without fear or favor.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/3/gatchalian-says-to-preside-over-sara-duterte-trial-1115">Gatchalian says to preside over Sara Duterte trial</a></div><p>Escudero was instrumental in the Gatchalian bloc&#x27;s effort to break the Senate impasse on June 3 and allowed the chamber to convene again as a legislative body by forming a quorum of 12.</p><p>There, senators adopted a rule allowing the Senate as an impeachment court to pick a different presiding officer for non-presidential trials.</p><p>Escudero later said that the impeachment court will follow the constitutional mandate requiring a two-thirds vote of members — 16 of 24 — for a conviction.</p><p>&quot;This is the prevailing law today, and whether we agree with it or not, we must abide by it,&quot; Escudero said.</p><p>He however said that parties have the liberty to question the conviction threshold, given the absences of some senators, before the Supreme Court.</p><p>He said the Senate impeachment court will honor any ruling of the high court.</p><p>&quot;Terminating an elected mandate before the end of its term is among the most drastic acts our constitutional democracy can undertake,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Let us all heed the words of the Supreme Court that &#x27;impeachment is not a chance to settle political scores.&#x27;&quot;<br/><br/></p><div><strong>MINORITY OPPOSITION TO ELECTING A PRESIDING OFFICER</strong><strong><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/1783326373784viber_image_2026-07-06_16-11-59.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the Senate convene as an impeachment court for the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 6, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano had objected to the election of a presiding officer, saying the Senate president must take the helm of the impeachment trial.</p><p>In response, Gatchalian explained that the Senate had passed a resolution amending its rules to allow a different presiding officer for the impeachment trial.</p><p>The constitution, he also said, allows Congress to promulgate its rules on impeachment.</p><p>Cayetano and his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, argued that the 1987 Constitution requires the Senate president to preside over impeachment trials except when a president is facing trial. In that case, the Supreme Court chief justice would be presiding officer.</p><p>Sen. Francis Pangilinan and Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III said that the constitution does not specifically say that only the Senate president can be presiding officer.</p><p>Minority Leader Cayetano said after the vote that he will register a continuing objection to the election of a presiding officer other than the Senate president.</p><p>Gatchalian, a non-lawyer, later clarified that it was his idea to make Escudero the court&#x27;s presiding officer so he can focus on other work as Senate president. </p><p>He said he remains in supervision of the trial.</p><div><br/></div><div><em></em><strong>WATCH</strong></div><div><em><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/XoYjjc_RPBw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></em><br/></div>

<p>The Senate impeachment court on Monday elected Sen. Francis Escudero its presiding officer for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, replacing Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.</p>

The Senate impeachment court on Monday elected Sen. Francis Escudero its presiding officer for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, replacing Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

Senate impeachment court elects Escudero as presiding officer

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Senate impeachment court elects Escudero as presiding officer

Rowegie Abanto,

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 06, 2026 02:48 PM PHT

|

Updated July 06, 2026 07:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Impeachment Trial

Senate Trial

Sara Duterte Trial

Senate

Impeachment

Chiz Escudero

Francis Escudero

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