Senator Imee Marcos has voiced strong objections over the leadership framework of the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, criticizing the arrangement that sees both Senate President Win Gatchalian and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero presiding over the court.
Expressing her deep discomfort with the current system, Marcos argued that having two officials leading the chamber creates unnecessary confusion and an awkward dynamic.
During her remarks on Friday, she actively defended Gatchalian’s position while casting doubt on the need for the shared leadership setup.
“Sobra naman kayo. Inaapi naman ninyo masyado si Sherwin. Senate President namin yan,” Marcos stated. “Kaya lang… bakit dalawa sila doon sa itaas?”
Marcos pointed to past precedents, specifically referencing the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada, where the Constitution explicitly mandated the Chief Justice to preside alongside the Senate President.
She contended that the rules governing a Vice President’s trial lack that same ambiguity, making the current debate unnecessary.
“Ang tanging exception lang kapag Pangulo, kaya Chief Justice, ‘yun lang naman eh ang liwa-liwanag. Eh bakit pinagdedibatihan pa?” she remarked. “There’s nothing to interpret. It’s very clear.”
Furthermore, the lawmaker criticized the move to let the Senate plenary vote on procedural matters, asserting that constitutional mandates cannot simply be rewritten by a majority vote among senators.
“Hindi simpleng boto ng majority ng Senado [ang] makakapagpalit ng konstitusyon,” she warned.
Marcos cautioned that these procedural irregularities could ultimately compromise the legitimacy of the entire impeachment process, highlighting the growing internal friction among lawmakers as the trial moves forward.