Escudero says he’s not biased in Sara Duterte impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Escudero has said that he is not being biased in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Dutert and that the proceedings ar fair. 

During an episode of his podcast aired on Sunday, one of the podcast hosts asked if he has no biases in the impeachment trial of Duterte. 

“Oo, sa simpleng dahilan, wala pa akong desisyon eh. Hindi pa ako nakakapagpasya,” Escudero, the presiding officer of the trial, replied.

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(Yes, for a simple reason, I don’t have a decision yet. I haven’t decided on anything.)

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He also asserted fairness in the trial as he noted the complaints from the prosecution team. 

“Ang nagrereklamo nga yung prosecution eh, kumikiling daw ako minsan. Mas madalas daw akong kumikiling sa defense. Gano’n yun, kasi ang burden naman talaga nasa prosecution,” he said. 

(The prosecution is the one complaining that I am taking the side of the defense sometimes. That’s how it is, the burden lies on the prosecution.)

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Escudero pointed out the obligation of any prosecution team to prove the allegations they presented. 

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“Sila yung dapat magpatunay kaya sorry, mas mabigat talaga ang kamay ng sinumang hukom at hukuman sa prosecution dahil sila yung may obligasyon,” he added. 

READ: Prosec drops all but unexplained wealth charge vs Duterte

(They should be the one proving all of those, so sorry, any court or judge is stricter towards the prosecution because they have the obligation.)

He also said that once the roles are reversed, then he will also apply the same standards to the defense team once it starts to present its evidence.

“Hindi sila pwedeng magtanong ng mga tanong na hindi rin bagay o nauukol tulad ng ginawa ng prosecution noong nakaraan,” he noted. 

(They are not allowed to ask anything unrelated like what the prosecution did before.)

Escudero earlier said that the defense team is set to begin presenting its evidence on November 9, with 25 trial days allotted for its presentation. 

The House prosecution panel already wrapped up its presentation of evidence as it withdrew Articles I, III, and IV of the impeachment articles against Duterte, leaving only the Article II or the alleged unexplained wealth for its formal offer of exhibits. 

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Article I is the alleged misuse of confidential funds under the OVP and Department of Education (DepEd), Article III is the alleged distribution of monetary gifts or payments to DepEd official and Article IV is the grave threats gainst President Ferdinand R.Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.  /gsg