House Insists Duterte Impeachment Follow Constitution Rules
A House of Representatives member reacted to the request of the Senate after convening as an impeachment court of a communication from the 20th Congress over Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment.
The Senate impeachment court has ruled to return the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero clarified that the return of Duterte’s impeachment does not mean that the case is dismissed. He stressed that it is an opportunity for the prosecution team to answer questions.
It was Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano who filed the motion to return the articles of impeachment to the House. It was stated that the articles of impeachment would be returned to the House without dismissing or terminating the case until the following are met:
- The House of Representatives certified to the non-violation of Article XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which provides that “No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within one year; include the circumstances on the filing of the first three impeachment complaints”; and
- The House of Representatives of the 20th Congress communicated to the Senate that it was willing and ready to pursue the impeachment complaint against the Vice President.
Following the decision of the Senate impeachment court, the lower chamber asserted that the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte followed the rules in the Constitution. House Speaker Martin Romualdez stressed on Duterte’s impeachment that the lower chamber moved on their duty to protect public confidence.
Recently, in a news conference, Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro spoke on the decision of the lower chamber to defer the acceptance of the articles of impeachment. Based on the report, they will defer it while the chamber is seeking clarification from the Senate impeachment court.
“We are certain and it is in the face of the impeachment complaint, that we are fully and strictly compliant with the requirements of the Constitution,” the Batangas Representative stressed.
The House member also cited that the Senate is seeking confirmation from the 20th Congress. Based on the report, she raised a question on how it can be achieved as the 20th Congress is still not existing.
“They’re asking for reconfirmation of the 20th Congress, whether it will pursue the impeachment complaint against the vice president. How can this order be complied with when the 20th Congress does not yet exist?” she said.
Despite the challenges, the House insisted that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial will proceed.