Senator Bato Dela Rosa Admits Leading Move to Dismiss VP Duterte Impeachment
BATO DELA ROSA – Senator Bato Dela Rosa confirmed he authored a resolution aimed at dismissing the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Wednesday confirmed that he was behind one of three draft resolutions seeking to dismiss the impeachment articles filed against Vice President Sara Duterte. According to Dela Rosa, these drafts could be consolidated to produce the most effective version, which he hopes to file in the coming days.
However, the proposed resolution is already drawing criticism from members of the House of Representatives, who argue that dismissing the complaint without holding a formal trial would be unconstitutional.
“Under the Constitution, ang trabaho ng Senate is to hear, ‘di ba?” said Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua, a member of the House prosecution panel. “Hindi ko naiisip kung paano nila idi-dismiss ‘yan without first conducting the trial. That is their constitutional mandate… Well for me, that is unconstitutional.”
Chua added that invalidating the impeachment complaint through a mere resolution would not reflect well on the Senate. “They have to explain it to the people,” he said.
The impeachment complaint against Duterte, which was approved by the House of Representatives in February, accuses her of “high crimes” including corruption and involvement in an alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her former running mate and political ally.
Duterte has denied the charges, asserting that her use of confidential funds was aboveboard and that her controversial remarks about the President were misinterpreted.
If the impeachment reaches a full Senate trial, Duterte would need at least nine votes from the 24-member chamber to be acquitted. A conviction would result in her removal from office and a lifetime ban from holding public office.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on June 11, the final day of the 19th Congress, on whether to defer the trial to the upcoming 20th Congress. The outcome of this vote will determine if the impeachment proceedings move forward or are effectively halted.