Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson revealed on Wednesday that members of the Senate majority bloc have initially agreed to appoint Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero as the presiding officer of the impeachment court against Vice President Sara Duterte.
According to Lacson, the majority discussed the matter and chose Escudero due to his experience in impeachment proceedings and his background as a lawyer. Escudero previously presided over an impeachment court in 2025.
However, Lacson clarified that the decision is not yet final and could still change. He denied any quid pro quo arrangement behind Escudero's possible appointment, stating that the discussion was solely aimed at maintaining an orderly impeachment process.
The impeachment court is expected to convene on July 6, 2026, while a pre-trial conference is scheduled for June 18, which may be closed to the public. The impeachment case against the Vice President is based on allegations including constitutional violations, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other grave accusations.
