Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday said no amount of pressure could convince him to violate the law, especially with regard to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“No amount of signatures will amend the law or convince me to violate it by convening the impeachment court during the recess and without complying with the requisite conditions precedent,” Escudero said, in response to House Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre’s call on Tuesday for the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial and not be hindered by technicalities.

Acidre had cited a plan of civil society groups to gather one million signatures in support of an immediate impeachment trial, “as mandated by the Constitution.”

“Perhaps a public clamor would no longer be necessary. It is the duty and mandate of the Senate to hear any impeachment complaint that comes to them, not to avoid it or drown it in technicalities. It would be better to just start the trial,” Acidre said.

In response, Escudero reiterated that the law cannot be swayed to suit individual desires, particularly when it comes to the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.

“The law is not bendable and should not bow to anyone’s dictates simply because of their own desires, bias, and timetable of wanting to rush the impeachment proceedings against VP Sara,” he said.

Drilon: Marcos can call special session

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can call for a special session of Congress to convene the Senate as an impeachment court without explicitly implying that the directive is intended to proceed with the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Lawyer and seasoned lawmaker Franklin Drilon made the statement in an interview on Wednesday amid speculations that Marcos is trying to keep his nose clean by distancing himself from discussions on Duterte’s impeachment trial in the Senate, particularly its contentious timetable.

“When he calls a special session, he doesn’t have to give any reason. Congress is obliged by its constitutional duty to start it. And when the session begins, the first thing that shall be discussed is the articles of impeachment,” said Drilon, a former Senate president and secretary of Justice, in Filipino.

Drilon asserted that the Senate is automatically compelled, and cannot defy Marcos once he calls for a special session, to immediately start the trial during the congressional break as the President has absolute legal power to issue such a directive under the law.

According to Drilon, the Senate cannot convene as an impeachment court at their discretion unless Marcos orders them to do so.

The President has the power to “call a special session at any time” pursuant to Article VI, Section 15 of the Constitution. However, Marcos has made it clear that he would only do so upon the Senate’s request.