Chiz shrugs off signature drive for impeach trial

There's no more turning back for Senate President Francis Escudero from his decision against convening an impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte's trial while Congress is on recess, even if faced with public clamor.

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

"No amount of signatures will amend the law nor convince me to violate it by convening the impeachment court during recess and without complying with the requisite conditions precedent," Escudero said yesterday in reaction to a campaign by religious groups and sectoral representatives to gather one million signatures to pressure him into starting Duterte’s impeachment trial immediately.

He pointed out that the impeachment process cannot be rushed to accommodate personal biases or political timelines.

“The law is not bendable and should not bow to anyone’s dictate simply because of their own desire, bias and timetable of wanting to rush the impeachment proceedings against VP Sara,” he stressed.