Senate President Francis Escudero聽 and聽 Vice President Sara Duterte聽 鈥擣ile photos by Ni帽o Jesus Orbeta and Grig C. Montegrande | Philippines Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Sen. Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� Escudero clarified on Monday that his decision to delay the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte was unrelated to talks of a possible change in Senate leadership.
Escudero moved the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment from June 2 to June 11, citing the priority legislation they need to pass before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die, or without scheduling a date to reconvene.
READ: Presentation of impeachment articles vs Sara Duterte moved to June 11
New schedule just procedural
He maintained that the schedule change is unrelated to the reported contest for the Senate presidency in the next Congress.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see [any] connection whatsoever, no,鈥� Escudero said at a press conference in the Senate.
鈥淚t has nothing to do, especially given the fact that the 20th Congress will have a totally different composition,鈥� he added.
But the Senate chief admitted that discussions about the Senate leadership are in full swing, as earlier revealed by Senators Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� Dela Rosa and Christopher 鈥淏ong鈥� Go.
Dela Rosa disclosed that Escudero had reached out to their group, dubbed the Duterte bloc, to talk about the Senate leadership.
READ: Escudero reaches out to Duterte bloc amid Senate shake-up murmurs
Dela Rosa named his colleagues in the Duterte bloc as Go, Senators Robin Padilla and Imee Marcos, and Senator-elect Rodante Marcoleta.
Courting support
Go, meanwhile, said both Escudero and Senator-elect Vicente 鈥淭ito鈥� Sotto III are seeking the support of their group for the Senate presidency.
READ: Escudero, Sotto seek Duterte bloc鈥檚 support for Senate presidency 鈥� Go
鈥淲e鈥檙e talking鈥攖hey鈥檙e all my friends. We鈥檙e discussing work not just for the 19th but also for the 20th,鈥� Escudero said when asked if he is already wooing his colleagues.
He added, 鈥淏ut in my view, it鈥檚 still too early 鈥� whatever the answer is now might change next week or next month, so all the discussions and preparations happening now feel a bit premature,鈥� he added.
Sotto has no qualms expressing in interviews his interest in the Senate presidency if the majority of senators will support him./mcm/abc