House of Representatives Follow SC Order over VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Case
SARA DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT – The House of Representatives asserts that the impeachment complaints abide by the rules in the Constitution.
Currently, many people are in doubts if the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Duterte will push through or not. Different speculations crossed the surface after the Senate ruled to return the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives.
The senator judges asked about the constitutionality of Vice Pres. Duterte’s impeachment. They also sought a reconfirmation from the 20th Congress. Eighteen (18) senators voted in favor of the remand of the Vice President’s impeachment:
YES
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Robin Padilla
- Bong Revilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
NO
- Koko Pimentel
- Risa Hontiveros
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Grace Poe
- Nancy Binay
Recently, Sen. Joel Villanueva claimed that some senators agree that the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will start in August 4. There are allegedly four to six senators who agree on having the trial started a week after the 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
According to Villanueva, the week after the 4th SONA of Marcos Jr. and the before the impeachment trial of Duterte will give the Senate and the House of Representatives the chance to settle. They would have to decide first on the key positions in the respective chambers.
Based on a report on PhilStar, the House of Representatives has complied with the order of the Supreme Court over the impeachment complaints against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The lower chamber submitted an information maintaining that the process are constitutional.
House spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante said the Office of the Secretary General, the legal representative of the lower chamber, filed the compliance through the Philippine Judiciary Portal. Based on the report, electronic copies were also sent to the parties involved. They will be filing the physical copies of the compliance on Monday.
“The House stands by its position that all four impeachment complaints were handled in full compliance with the Constitution,” the statement reportedly reads.
According to House spox Atty. Princess Abante, the first three (3) impeachment complaints against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte were included in the Order of Business within the 10-session-day timeline required by the Charter while the fourth and last impeachment complaint was sent directly to the Senate of the Articles of Impeachment, effectively nullifying the previous complaints.
Based on the report, the spokesperson of the House of Representatives assured that due process remains available for Vice Pres. Duterte. According to her, the trial will give Duterte the chance to defend herself and present her evidence.
Previously, the Office of the Vice President or OVP spokesperson claimed that the Philippines will save millions of money if the Supreme Court rules for the dismissal of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment case.
