MANILA — Sen. Ronald dela Rosa on Wednesday defended his motion for the Senate to dismiss the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, saying it was not disallowed by the rules.

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"There is no prohibition, kahit saan ka magtanong (you can ask anyone)," he said.

During their plenary session on Tuesday, Dela Rosa proposed to dismiss the impeachment complaint against Duterte, but later agreed to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano's suggestion to return it to the House of Representatives instead.

Eighteen senators voted to approve the motion.

"So kung gusto mo na gano'n, meaning since yung 18 nag-support, i-disqualify niyo yun. Yung lima na umayaw, i-disqualify rin niyo yun," Dela Rosa said. 

(If you want to disqualify the 18 who supported, then also disqualify the five who voted against it)

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Dela Rosa explained why he agreed to modify his proposal from dismissal to just returning the complaint to the House.

"Nagsabi man yung iba na mukhang ayaw nila ng outright dismissal. So ako naman hindi naman ako magmamatigas insisting ako sa dismissal... Practical pressure. I can give and take. Hindi ako for take and take," he said.

(Some said they were not for outright dismissal. So I will not insist on dismissal, practical pressure)

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