MANILA -- Senator-judges Joel Villanueva and Bong Go on Wednesday insisted the return of the articles of impeachment back to the House of Representatives (HOR) was not planned. 

Villanueva and Go supported the amended motion on Tuesday night to remand the complaint. 

“Of course not, of course not. There's no plan at all na i-convene nga ang impeachment court,” Villanueva said. “I made mention that anytime anyone can move or give a motion sa floor, kaya yun yung nangyari sa privilege speech ni Senator Bato Dela Rosa.” 

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Go added, for his part: “Wala pong pinagpaplanuhan dyan at lahat po yan ay naaayon sa proseso. I believe importante dito ay dumaan sa legal na proseso at mabigyan po ng due process ang lahat.” 

Asked if the move to return the complaint was a tradeoff to appease the Duterte camp, Villanueva said, “You can say there was a compromise because if you recall they were so passionate about the dismissal. Ako rin passionate ako na di talaga pupuwedeng idismiss and wala kaming kapangyarihan.” 

Villanueva remains firm that they still have jurisdiction on the case even if the articles of impeachment are returned. This is why he said they will still proceed even if the HOR rejects the impeachment court’s move. 

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“If they don't do anything about it, we will proceed. We will proceed with the trial because pinapasagot lang namin sila dahil we feel na malaki yung matitipid sa oras at panahon,” Villanueva said. 

He also leaves it to the Supreme Court to decide on the constitutionality of the return if ever someone questions it before the high tribunal. 

“Our conscience is clear we know what we’re doing is right,” Villanueva said.