Escudero Defends Senators, Hits House

Senate President Francis Escudero on Wednesday took aim at the House of Representatives for their "dangerous assault on our constitutional order," as he explained his vote to archive the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

- By NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

Addressing the House in a speech, Escudero said the Senate "is not your playground to run after your political enemies" and that the chamber would never be "an accomplice in any grand scheme."

Several quarters have accused the Senate president of stalling the impeachment process.

"To the House of Representatives, I say, do not allow yourselves to be used for the blind hatred and ambition of a few, who did things haphazardly, gravely abused their discretion, and violated due process rights under the Constitution as found by the high court itself," Escudero said.

He lashed out at those attacking the Supreme Court's ruling, saying the same people did not object to the SC's findings in Francisco v. House of Representatives, which affirmed the due process clause as a non-negotiable requirement even in impeachment proceedings.

"Needless to say, the due process limitation on the impeachment process was already discussed in Francisco. May pumalag ba noon? Wala (Did anyone object then? No one)," he said.

Escudero dismissed accusations that honoring the Supreme Court's ruling was tantamount to shielding Duterte from accountability.

He said questions must be asked of those pushing to defy the Supreme Court: "Are you truly for accountability or simply anti-Duterte? Do you truly respect and want to preserve the constitution or simply hate the Vice President?" Escudero made it clear that for him, fidelity to the Constitution should not be based on political convenience.

"Let today's verdict be a stern and unequivocal warning to anyone who would dare to use the Senate for their personal battering ram to further their personal political ambitions." In a separate speech, Sen. Imee Marcos also took a swipe at the House for "misusing its power." She accused House members of being "lulong sa kapangyarihan (power hungry)" and of using the impeachment process as weapon to advance their interests.

Institutional mandate