Former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo on Friday urged Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero not to be biased as presiding officer of the impeachment court trying Vice President Sara Duterte, saying he should focus on uncovering the truth.

"Ang suggestion ko diyan sa president officer [Sen. Chiz Escudero], huwag siyang maging bias. Kailangan mag-aral siyang mabuti sa pagprepreside. Kailangan hanapin niya ang katotohanan," Panelo said in an interview on DZRH's Damdaming Bayan.

He added that problems arise when a presiding officer either lacks the ability to properly manage proceedings or reveals partiality at an early stage of the trial.

“‘Yan ang problema kapag ang presiding officer either hindi marunong magpreside or inilalabas niya ang kulay nang maaga pa,” he added.

"Obvious naman 'yun," Panelo said when asked whether Escudero was biased, arguing that the presiding officer had done nothing but deny the defense's objections.

He also criticized Escudero for allowing the prosecution to proceed with its opening presentation before the impeachment court had ruled on the defense's objections.

According to Panelo, permitting the prosecution to speak before resolving the objections undermined the proceedings because the arguments had already been heard even if they were later stricken from the record.

He also accused Escudero of allowing the impeachment trial to become a "propaganda proceeding" instead of a proper judicial process.

“Ito namang presiding officer sa halip na i-grant yung objection ay pinayagan pa magsalita [‘yung prosecution]...Kahit na i-strike out mo ‘yan useless. Eh narinig na. Kaya nagkaroon ng propaganda,” he said.

Panelo argued that impeachment cases should be decided through the presentation of witnesses and evidence rather than lengthy speeches by lawyers, saying allowing such presentations compromised the integrity of the proceedings.

The former presidential legal counsel likewise questioned the impeachment court's rule limiting senator-judges to two minutes when questioning witnesses.

He said the time limit should be removed, arguing that it would prevent senator-judges from fully examining witnesses and determining the truth.

He added, “Tanggalin na 'yong rules na 2 minutes. Kalokohan 'yan. Hindi mo makikita ang katotohanan sa 2 minutes.”

“Kaya dapat walang limit ang mga justices. Otherwise useless ang ano niyo…2 minutes ag pagtatanong?... Paano mo matatanong yuung gusto mo matanong? Tsaka ililimit pa hindi ka pa pwede magtanong.”

Panelo said judges in collegial courts such as the Supreme Court and the Sandiganbayan are not restricted by similar limits and often spend significantly more time questioning witnesses and parties during proceedings.

He maintained that cross-examinations should not be shortened, warning that doing so could undermine efforts to establish the facts of the case.

“Hindi pupwedeng paiksiin ang impeachment... Kailangan sundin mo yung rules. Hindi pupwede na i-shoshorten mo ‘yung pagkocorss-examination… Gusto mo makita ang katotohanan, paano mo makikita ang katotohanan kung ishoshort-cut mo ‘yan?" he said.

"Bakit ba sila nagmamadali?" Panelo asked, questioning the need to expedite the proceedings.

Panelo also criticized what he described as "grandstanding" by some prosecution lawyers, saying unnecessary objections and prolonged direct examinations were lengthening the trial.

"Pwede ba ‘yung prosecution lawyer tigilan mo na ‘yang grandstanding mo. Pambihira itong mga abogado na ito, palibhasa kasi ngayon lang sila na-televise eh. Kaya yung lahat ng mga objection na wala namang katuturan, pati ‘yung pagdirect exmination niyan pinahahaba niya eh, pwede namang shortcut," he emphasized.

Despite his criticisms of the proceedings, Panelo defended the defense panel's repeated objections, saying objections are a normal part of trial practice when either side believes procedural rules have been violated.

"The same manner the prosecution can object doon sa kung mali naman ang pamamaraan ng pagkocross-examine ng isa," he said.

Asked whether he was providing legal advice to Vice President Duterte's defense team, Panelo said he was not.

“Ay hindi, mas maganda na nasa gitna ka para nakita mo yung dalawang panig. At nagbibigay ka ng obserbasyon sa kanila,” he said.