How did Chiz Escudero come out with a lengthy ruling on the dropping of 3 Duterte impeachment articles so quickly?
The Senate impeachment court has accepted the prosecution's move to withdraw three of the four impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte, with presiding officer Chiz Escudero delivering a lengthy ruling less than two hours after the announcement.
A little past 1 p.m. during the Oct. 13 trial, lead House prosecutor Gerville Luistro made a manifestation to drop the charges concerning alleged misuse of confidential funds (Article I), grave threats (Article IV), and bribery at the Department of Education (Article III).
Escudero, however, told the congresswoman that the impeachment court would ultimately decide on the move.
After a 30-minute recess—and some manifestations from Luistro and lead defense counsel Sheila Sison—at 2:34 p.m., Escudero came out with an extended ruling accepting the withdrawal with prejudice, which he read for about 28 minutes.
The presiding officer prefaced by saying that for the past 39 days, the court had prepared extensively to make sure that they "know the same, if not more" than the prosecution and defense.
"In the hope that we can dispatch with any issue that will be brought upon this court so that we come up with various possibilities," he said.
During a press briefing after the trial, impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Regie Tongol was asked if the court expected the prosecution's move, as it had a lengthy ruling prepared.
"Hindi naman po inaasahan, pero lahat po kasi ng mga nangyayaring sirkumstansya na 'yung ating Senate staff po ni presiding officer, kasama ang clerk of court, ay ina-anticipate na po," he explained.
"Based on the different scenarios, meron pong mga nakahandang possible na sasabihin niyang ruling na skeletal in form, but to be drafted and finalized kapag i-de-deliver niya po."
Tongol added that Escudero's ruling included inputs from his fellow senator-judges. "That's why up to the last minute, he was actually writing and editing 'yung kanyang speech."
The spokesperson continued to share that what Escudero delivers is what appears in the journal, as he typically edits his written speeches.
Withdrawal of 3 out of 4 charges
According to Luistro, the prosecution's decision to drop the three charges was to focus on Article II, which covers Duterte's alleged unexplained wealth and bank transactions.
"Why [is] one article enough? The prosecution believes it has presented sufficient evidence for Article II to stand on its own. All in po tayo dito," she said. "We believe that evidence is substantial and compelling, and warrants the respondent's removal from office for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust."
"Article II, the article on unexplained wealth, covers three matters: One, unexplained wealth. Two, violations of the SALN. And three, prohibited business interests. We believe we have provided sufficient evidence on all these allegations."
The defense opposed this, with Sison "strongly" objecting to Escudero's extended ruling, particularly as it relaxes the sub judice rule prohibiting members of the Senate impeachment court, the impeached official, prosecutors, and the defense counsel from making comments and disclosures pertaining to the merits of the trial.
The impeachment trial, now on its 39th day, has adjourned for a recess to make way for budget hearings and will resume on Nov. 9.