Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero has emerged as the top‑rated senator‑judge in the maiden survey of Pulso Intelligence’s Senator-Judge Scorecard, which tracked the public sentiment on fairness, performance, and trust among all 21 members of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
In the nationwide conducted from August 15 to 16, Escudero, the impeachment court’s presiding officer, secured a leading overall score of 2.92. The highest score is 3.00.
Pulso Intelligence reported that Escudero led in all three dimensions, scoring 2.89 in trust; 2.95 in performance; and 2.89 in fairness, resulting in the top composite score.
He was followed by fellow Senators Christopher “Bong” Go (2.86), Alan Peter Cayetano (2.85), Bam Aquino (2.82), and Robin Padilla (2.81). The lowest‑rated were senators Joel Villanueva (2.44), Migz Zubiri (2.48), JV Ejercito (2.51), Tito Sotto (2.56), and Erwin Tulfo (2.56).
The survey found that 49 percent of respondents lean toward an acquittal for Vice President Sara Duterte, while 34 percent for a guilty verdict, and 17 percent remain neutral. Pulso emphasized that these ratings reflect public perception of the senator‑judges’ conduct and do not predict the outcome of the impeachment trial.
Escudero’s top ranking comes as he continues to preside over the historic impeachment proceedings. Upon taking oath as presiding officer, he vowed to champion impartiality and constitutional fidelity.
The Bicolano senator said he would “uphold the fairness and integrity of this process and see it through to its proper conclusion” and fulfill the responsibility “without fear or favor.”
The veteran legislator earlier reminded his colleagues that terminating an elected mandate was “among the most drastic acts our constitutional democracy can undertake,” stressing that the trial must be guided by prudence, caution, and unquestionable impartiality.
He cautioned senator‑judges, prosecutors, and defense counsels to refrain from public commentary on the merits of the case and to observe the “cold neutrality of an impartial judge.”
According to Pulso Intelligence, a scorecard will be released weekly during the impeachment trial, basing it on a weighted sample of 1,500 Filipinos of legal age nationwide.