Vice President Sara Duterte has spoken out in defense of Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, dismissing claims that delays in her impeachment trial stem from his supposed fear of her.
In an ambush interview in The Hague, Duterte said, “Knowing Senate President Chiz Escudero, he’s not someone who’s easily scared. I don’t know where those claims are coming from.”
The issue arose after Representative Perci Cendaña, who endorsed Duterte’s impeachment complaint, questioned whether Escudero was hesitating due to fear or political loyalty. Cendaña emphasized that the Senate’s role in impeachment is a constitutional duty, not a political preference.
Escudero dismissed Cendaña’s comment as a “bait” question and insisted the Senate is simply doing its job. “In my career, I’ve never made decisions out of fear, nor have I been anyone’s follower,” he said in a separate interview.
He clarified that the impeachment process will proceed on June 11, delayed from the original June 2 date to accommodate pending legislative matters. Duterte will then have 10 days to respond, extendable upon request.
However, Senator Francis Tolentino warned that the case could be “functionally dismissed” if unresolved before the 19th Congress ends on June 30. Escudero said senators would vote on whether the case carries over to the next Congress.
Duterte faces charges of betrayal of public trust, constitutional violations, and graft—allegations she firmly denies.