Senate impeachment court to retain the term “respondent-accused” in records

During the impeachment trial, Francis Escudero announced that the court will continue using the phrase “respondent-accused” to describe Vice President Sara Duterte. The decision follows a challenge by House prosecutor and Akbayan party-list representative Chel Diokno, who argued that the term “accused” implies criminal liability and should be replaced with “respondent.” Escudero clarified that the court’s records will reflect the terminology used by Duterte’s legal team. The debate highlights procedural nuances in the Philippines’ impeachment process.