Manila: The House of Representatives' prosecution panel has officially notified the Senate, which is functioning as an impeachment court, that it has adhered to all constitutional mandates in the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. On Wednesday, the panel submitted a certification to the Senate confirming this compliance.
According to Philippines News Agency, the panel also presented a Manifestation reiterating its unqualified entry of appearance, countering the conditional Entry of Appearance Ad Cautelam submitted by Duterte's legal team. This submission, filed as a precaution, questions the jurisdiction of the impeachment court. The House panel's submission included an enrolled copy of Resolution 328 (House Resolution 2346), adopted during a plenary session on June 11, confirming that the impeachment process initiated on February 5 adhered to the 1987 Constitution and established House Rules.
The certification emphasized that the House appropriately forwarded the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, maintaining that there is no legal ground for their return. Drawing parallels to the 2012 impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, the prosecutors asserted that the transmission was presumed legal and constitutional.
"This submission is without waiver of the Prosecution's position that there is no legal basis for the return of the Articles of Impeachment forwarded to the Senate in accordance with the 1987 Constitution, which enjoys a presumption of legality and constitutionality," the panel stated, referencing the 2012 impeachment trial of Chief Justice Corona.
The submission was signed by Public Prosecutor Marcelino Libanan, representing the entire panel of House prosecutors, with copies provided to the Vice President and her legal team. The Manifestation highlighted that the House prosecutors' resubmitted entry of appearance is unconditional, contrasting with Duterte's legal team's conditional submission.
By reaffirming their complete submission and participation without any reservations, the prosecutors emphasized that the Senate must fulfill its constitutional obligation to adjudicate the case.
