MANILA, Philippines — Senate Presiding Officer Francis Escudero on Monday urged the senator-judges, prosecution and defense panels to remain focused on evidence, justice and fairness as Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial entered its 33rd day, warning them not to be distracted by mounting tensions and criticisms.
The remarks came days after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV criticized Escudero’s handling of the impeachment proceedings.
Trillanes had questioned, among other matters, whether Escudero was intentionally preventing the prosecution from presenting him as a witness.
Acknowledging that “patience is wearing thin” and tempers were beginning to fray, Escudero called on everyone involved in the proceedings to remain civil and focused on the Senate’s responsibility to administer justice.
“The justice system cannot function effectively when the professionals charged with administering it cannot even be polite to one another,” Escudero said, quoting former US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
“Our duty is not to prevail over one another, but to assist this court in the fair and orderly administration of justice,” he added.
Escudero said the call for civility applied not only to lawyers appearing before the impeachment court but also to the parties, witnesses, public officials, commentators and observers involved in or following the proceedings.
He reminded lawyers of their duty to treat fellow members of the bar with “courtesy, civility, fairness, and candor,” while urging everyone touched by the proceedings to uphold the same standard.
“Our duty is not to conquer one another in these proceedings, but to illuminate the truth and serve the cause of justice,” Escudero said. “We shall not be distracted nor detracted by the rantings or tantrums of anyone inside or outside this courtroom.”
Escudero stressed that the impeachment court’s task was to determine the case based on the evidence.
“At the end of the day, it’s not about me, it’s not about you, it’s not about any one of us here,” he said. “Rather, it is about the country, our people, accountability, justice, and fairness.”
