Overthrow them

The nation, the Filipino people, are in a rage. People from nearly all sectors — the urban poor, the rural folk, labor, the professions, the academe, the Church, the NGOs are mobilizing, preparing to do battle with the powers-that-be.

- TONY LOPEZ

All because of one man, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, the Senate President. And all because of one woman, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Escudero and pro-Duterte senators Bato dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino and their ilk in the 24-member Senate, are trying mightily to stop the trial of VP Duterte. With malicious smirk and effortless impunity.

In February 2025, at least 215 congressmen, 68 percent of the entire House membership, impeached Duterte for betrayal of public trust and six other alleged crimes, including bribery, corruption, plunder, unexplained wealth and plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Under the Constitution, Article XI, "Accountability of Public Officers," Section 4, "in case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed."

Escudero interprets "shall forthwith proceed" to mean — "not to proceed at all." The exact opposite of the mandate, order and language of the Constitution.

If the Escudero cabal succeeds in their gross violation of the Constitution, it could lead to any or all of three things: 1) The ouster of Escudero — as a lawyer (UP grad), as senator and as Senate president; 2) the ouster of Sara Duterte as vice president and 3) the ouster or dissolution of the entire Senate of the 19th Congress.