VP Sara impeach trial can proceed without following Senate's 'illegal' demands: solon
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VP Sara impeach trial can proceed without following Senate's 'illegal' demands: solon
Pro impeachment groups march towards the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on June 11, 2025, as they call for the upper House Senators to begin impreachment proceedings on Vice PResident Sara Duterte. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
Pro impeachment groups march towards the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on June 11, 2025, as they call for the upper House Senators to begin impreachment proceedings on Vice PResident Sara Duterte. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte can proceed independently of the lower chamber’s compliance with the requirements of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court, according to a House impeachment prosecutor.
MANILA — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte can proceed independently of the lower chamber’s compliance with the requirements of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court, according to a House impeachment prosecutor.
San Juan City Representative Ysabel Zamora asserted the two requirements issued by the Senate impeachment court have “no basis in the Constitution and in law”.
San Juan City Representative Ysabel Zamora asserted the two requirements issued by the Senate impeachment court have “no basis in the Constitution and in law”.
"We have to remember that the proceedings can proceed independently of these requirements made by the Senate. Wala naman po sa ating Constitution na dapat nilang ibalik sa Kongreso ang articles, dapat nilang i-remand or return to sender ang articles, at wala naman din pong requirement na kami ay dapat mag-file ng certification,” Zamora explained.
"We have to remember that the proceedings can proceed independently of these requirements made by the Senate. Wala naman po sa ating Constitution na dapat nilang ibalik sa Kongreso ang articles, dapat nilang i-remand or return to sender ang articles, at wala naman din pong requirement na kami ay dapat mag-file ng certification,” Zamora explained.
“Hindi po naka-depende sa certification na ito ang pagtuloy ng impeachment case,” she added.
“Hindi po naka-depende sa certification na ito ang pagtuloy ng impeachment case,” she added.
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The Senate last week voted 18-5 to return the Articles of Impeachment to the House, until: 1) it certifies that its impeachment proceedings against Duterte had not violated the Constitution, and 2) until the House of the 20th Congress confirms through a resolution that it still wants to pursue the impeachment trial.
The Senate last week voted 18-5 to return the Articles of Impeachment to the House, until: 1) it certifies that its impeachment proceedings against Duterte had not violated the Constitution, and 2) until the House of the 20th Congress confirms through a resolution that it still wants to pursue the impeachment trial.
The lower chamber then adopted a resolution certifying that its impeachment proceedings complied with all the requirements of the Constitution. But such certification has yet to be submitted to the impeachment court, along with a motion for clarification the House prosecution panel said it intends to file.
The lower chamber then adopted a resolution certifying that its impeachment proceedings complied with all the requirements of the Constitution. But such certification has yet to be submitted to the impeachment court, along with a motion for clarification the House prosecution panel said it intends to file.
The House has deferred acceptance of the articles, until the impeachment court issues clarification on its order.
The House has deferred acceptance of the articles, until the impeachment court issues clarification on its order.
For Zamora, it would be “unfair” to say that the House is the one delaying the impeachment proceedings, because when the lower chamber filed the articles of impeachment before the Senate, the trial should have proceeded forthwith.
For Zamora, it would be “unfair” to say that the House is the one delaying the impeachment proceedings, because when the lower chamber filed the articles of impeachment before the Senate, the trial should have proceeded forthwith.
“Your House prosecution has been preparing for trial since February… I think it is unfair for anyone to say that it's the prosecution that's causing the delay in the impeachment trial... Pag-submit po namin ng articles of impeachment, tuloy-tuloy na nga dapat po ang trial. Kaya wala na nga po sa Kongreso ang ball. Ika nga, the ball is in their court. Now it is just for us House prosecutors to present the evidence to the people, to the senators, para sila ay maka-conclude kung sila ay mag-acquit o magko-convict,” she explained.
“Your House prosecution has been preparing for trial since February… I think it is unfair for anyone to say that it's the prosecution that's causing the delay in the impeachment trial... Pag-submit po namin ng articles of impeachment, tuloy-tuloy na nga dapat po ang trial. Kaya wala na nga po sa Kongreso ang ball. Ika nga, the ball is in their court. Now it is just for us House prosecutors to present the evidence to the people, to the senators, para sila ay maka-conclude kung sila ay mag-acquit o magko-convict,” she explained.
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INHIBIT?
On calls made by a minority solon for senator-judges, who have shown bias in favor of the Vice President, to inhibit from the trial, Zamora said the House prosecution is discussing it, but such is a voluntary act.
On calls made by a minority solon for senator-judges, who have shown bias in favor of the Vice President, to inhibit from the trial, Zamora said the House prosecution is discussing it, but such is a voluntary act.
“For the motion for inhibition, we are discussing that as a panel. But sa totoo lang po, ang paniwala namin, it is a voluntary act on the part of the judges... It should be the senator-judges, who will voluntarily inhibit themselves upon showing that they exhibited partiality or bias in favor of the vice president,” she explained.
“For the motion for inhibition, we are discussing that as a panel. But sa totoo lang po, ang paniwala namin, it is a voluntary act on the part of the judges... It should be the senator-judges, who will voluntarily inhibit themselves upon showing that they exhibited partiality or bias in favor of the vice president,” she explained.
Zamora also defended the five senators who voted against the motion to return the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives. Duterte previously said that if senator-judges showing bias in her favor will be asked to inhibit from her impeachment trial, the same should also apply to those showing bias against her.
Zamora also defended the five senators who voted against the motion to return the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives. Duterte previously said that if senator-judges showing bias in her favor will be asked to inhibit from her impeachment trial, the same should also apply to those showing bias against her.
“Just because that they voted against that motion to remand does not mean that they are against the Vice President. It just means that they are following the Constitution, they are following rules, and that they want to see the evidence to be presented before the Senator, judges, and before the public,” Zamora said.
“Just because that they voted against that motion to remand does not mean that they are against the Vice President. It just means that they are following the Constitution, they are following rules, and that they want to see the evidence to be presented before the Senator, judges, and before the public,” Zamora said.
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