Manila: The House of Representatives' prosecution panel has submitted a motion to the Senate, serving as an impeachment court, to mandate Vice President Sara Duterte to address the Articles of Impeachment filed against her.
According to Philippines News Agency, the motion, titled 'Entry with Motion to Issue Summons,' requests Senate President Francis Escudero to release a writ of summons requiring Duterte to respond within 10 days of receiving it. The document was received by the Senate on Tuesday and was endorsed by House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Representative Marcelino Libanan, a prosecution panel member. Accompanying him were 1-Rider Party-list Representative Rodge Gutierrez, House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V, and House Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun.
The motion asserts that the prosecution panel, appointed by the House of Representatives, respectfully requests the Senate President to issue a summons for Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte to present her response to the Verified Complaint for Impeachment. Currently, Duterte is in The Hague, The Netherlands, supporting her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing the International Criminal Court over charges related to crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign.
The prosecution panel emphasized that the House had transmitted the verified impeachment complaint to the Senate on February 5, following endorsement by more than one-third of House members. The panel reiterated the constitutional requirement for the Senate to commence trial proceedings upon receiving the impeachment complaint.
They cited Section 3, paragraph 4, Article XI of the Constitution, highlighting that the Verified Impeachment Complaint represents the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte, necessitating the Senate to proceed with the trial. The House prosecutors also referenced the Senate's Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials, specifically Rule VII, which requires issuing a writ of summons for the impeached individual to respond within a non-extendible 10-day deadline.
The panel further pointed out that the Senate Rules remain effective until modified or repealed, quoting Rule XXV, which states that the rules take effect immediately upon publication in two newspapers of general circulation. They urged the Impeachment Court to adhere to the constitutional mandate for the case to proceed and to issue the writ of summons to Duterte.
Senate President Escudero indicated that the Senate would address the motion accordingly. He mentioned that he had not yet reviewed the document but would consult with the Senate Legal Team and discuss the matter the following day.
