Netizens expressed outrage over the behavior of Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Senator Joel Villanueva during a heated Senate session on June 10, where discussions on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte took center stage.
A viral video circulated online showing Escudero walking out while Senator Risa Hontiveros was delivering her remarks on the motion to remand the Articles of Impeachment back to the House of Representatives. Despite Escudero’s abrupt exit, Hontiveros continued her speech unbothered.
Many social media users criticized Escudero, calling his actions disrespectful and unbecoming of a Senate leader:
not chiz escudero being called out by his home department and FORMER professors in upd polsc
check the 2nd to the last paragraph lol pic.twitter.com/tB4L9s26Dk
— drez (@theday_begins) June 9, 2025
Sumagot ka, Chiz Escudero! pic.twitter.com/Fn1ihgXw11
— Leisbeth Recto (@leisbeth_recto) June 11, 2025
Si Chiz Escudero ang number 1 example na hindi lahat ng mga galing sa UP, may dangal, may talino, o maka-mamamayan
— xian (@xiandrewE) June 3, 2025
Senator-elect Tito Sotto lambasts and criticizes the handling of Chiz Escudero as Presiding Officer of the Impeachment Court.
He calls out, among others things, the following mistakes in the last few days:
1. Chiz Escudero not asking Imee Marcos what her point of order is and… pic.twitter.com/mO638gRPK5
— Jesus Falcis (@jesusfalcis) June 12, 2025
Si Chiz Escudero lang ba ang nag-iisang abogado sa Pilipinas na hindi alam na ang “forthwith” at “immediately” ay iisa ang kahulugan? pic.twitter.com/f9LnEuQe9s
— ☘ (@shamrocker_oo_) June 7, 2025
Honor and Excellence.
Ipinagmamalaki ni Senate President Chiz Escudero na produkto siya magmula kindergarten hanggang law school ng University of the Philippines.
I remember this last lecture of a semester ni Professor Solita Monsod. Where she discussed Honor and Excellence. pic.twitter.com/onFSGRygSV
— tenchi (@tenchi_MNL) June 5, 2025
Robert Mano: “Ano na yung binili nila dun sa ano, pangalan ng mga tumanggap ng confidential funds?”
Doris Bigornia: “Mary Grace Piattos, eh yung Mary Grace Piattos ang flavor daw cheese. Good morning SP Chiz Escudero, sana masarap ang ulam mo.”
HAHAHAHAAAAA pic.twitter.com/cquOZMF4Z8
— #PunchTheLies (@PunchTheLies) June 11, 2025
Adding fuel to the controversy was a hot mic moment involving Senator Joel Villanueva, who was caught coaching Senator Imee Marcos on how to interrupt Hontiveros.
Wow, behind the scenes showing it was Senator Joel Villanueva who was coaching Imee Marcos to interrupt Senator Risa as she was speaking.
“Pwede ka na magsalita para tumigil siya.”
Hiyang hiya naman ang Jesus is Lord Movement sa pagka upright mo sir.
— Claudiopoi (@claudiopoy) June 11, 2025
#Exposed Senators Joel Villanueva and Imee Marcos (with ‘co-conspirators’ Bato Dela Rosa & JV Ejercito)
Behind the (Interjection) Scene: Video that’s doing the rounds of socmed is taken from a villain’s perspective
This amid Malacañang’s call: ‘Wag paglaruan ang mga procedure’ pic.twitter.com/LR9I8YjAWo
— JPG (@joel_gregorio) June 11, 2025
Tingnan mo ang anak mong si Joel Villanueva, @Bro_Eddie. Akala ng mga tao, matino’t maka-Diyos. Naturingang anak ng pastor, anak ng Diyos, pasermon-sermon pero asal palang demonyo! Nagawa niya talagang sulsulan si Imee Marcos para guluhin si Sen Risa Hontiveros? PURE EVIL‼️ pic.twitter.com/08FOicbbsj
— #PunchTheLies (@PunchTheLies) June 11, 2025
Kulang na lang kay Joel Villanueva dito ay sungay.. Iyong mga taga JIL (Jesus is Lord) diyan eto ang anak ng pastor ninyo, ngising demonyo.. pic.twitter.com/isMOGOEHwy
— DIALYZERISLIFE ♿ (@Dei_Zaya) June 12, 2025
Si Joel Villanueva yun maka dios pero mahihiya si Satanas sa kademonyohan. Sabi ko sa inyo yan mga alive alive xtian ang nuknukan ang sama ng budhi! pic.twitter.com/0TJG0jGTH1
— AltGMA (@KafosoMo) June 12, 2025
Si Joel Villanueva, proud na Kristiyano pero demonyong tagabulong kay Imee sa Senado.
Bastos, hindi nakaka-Jesusness.
— Nestie (@aahnesty) June 11, 2025
Ka batch tong si Joel Villanueva and I was proud of him nung TESDA man sya, now ikinahihiya ko tong mamang to.. Grabe, sana sa susunod na reunion i call out ka ng kapwa mo Tomasino. https://t.co/AeZkbxsf9j
— irad-ginto (@ginto0418) June 11, 2025
What’s infuriating is that Joel Villanueva is playing the public. On the podium, kunwari he’s for the Constitution and accountability. But on the Senate floor, he’s pulling the strings and thrashing Senator @risahontiveros who alone makes sense in all this madness.
— Claudiopoi (@claudiopoy) June 12, 2025
As Hontiveros moved to prevent further interpellations following a motion to dismiss by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Villanueva was overheard whispering to Marcos, “Ikaw mag-point of order.” He later urged her, “Pwede ka nang magsalita sa mic para tumigil siya,” referring to Hontiveros.
Following Villanueva’s cue, Marcos declared a “point of order,” which Hontiveros quickly contested: “I still have the floor, Mr. President.” The session was temporarily suspended to ease tensions.
Eventually, the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, voted to remand the complaint back to the House. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano amended Dela Rosa’s motion, leading to an 18–5 vote in favor of the remand. Among those who opposed were Senators Hontiveros, Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, and Win Gatchalian.
In a subsequent radio interview, Hontiveros claimed that the Duterte bloc in the Senate—composed of Senators dela Rosa, Bong Go, Robin Padilla, and Imee Marcos—had orchestrated the move to block the impeachment proceedings.
“If it was a play or a maneuver, the most important thing is the action we took on the floor,” said Hontiveros. “It’s not the PBA Finals. Why did the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, remand the articles like that?”
