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Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Vice President Sara Duterte. Senate PRIB

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Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175126744510820230911-risa-sara.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Vice President Sara Duterte. Senate PRIB</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros said Monday the impeachment court should proceed with the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and not entertain a motion to dismiss or convict.</p><p>Hontiveros was reacting to the statement last week of Senate President and impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero that all senator-judges could present any motion.</p><p>“Para sa amin, mga senator-judges, ibang understanding ko sa tungkulin namin, it is to conduct a trial,” Hontiveros said in a press conference. “At para makaboto kami eventually na convict ba, acquit ba, kailangan naming madinig ang mga ebidensya sa bawat article of impeachment.”</p><p>“Kailangan naming matingnan at mapakinggan ang bawat witness sa bawat article. Due process requires it. Hindi naman puwedeng mayroon lang motion to dismiss, pagbobotohan na namin, dismiss, in effect, acquit. Gayundin, hindi naman puwedeng, hindi pa kami nagkukundukta ng trial, boboto na kami, convict,” she added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/28/supreme-court-is-last-resort-if-senate-dismisses-vp-sara-impeachment-case-spox-1412">Supreme Court is last resort if Senate dismisses VP Sara impeachment case – spox</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/27/senate-court-cannot-just-dismiss-impeach-raps-constitution-framer-1229">&#x27;Where did that come from?&#x27;: Senate court cannot just &#x27;dismiss&#x27; impeach raps — Constitution framer</a></div><p>She pointed out that moving to dismiss or convict outrightly would not be fair to the prosecution, the official being impeached, and the public.</p><p>“Hindi po ako sumasang-ayon na karapatan namin bilang Senate Impeachment Trial Court pagbotohan at pagdesisyunan na ni wala pang isang unang minuto ng trial yung motion to dismiss na nakapaloob sa ngayon sa formal answer ad cautelam,” the senator said.</p><p>“Kailangan umupo kami bilang senator-judges, ikondukta ang trial, at saka lamang mag-desisyon at bumoto kung convict ba o acquit ba,” she added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/24/sara-duterte-calls-impeachment-case-scrap-of-paper-pleads-not-guilty-2321">Sara Duterte calls impeachment case &#x27;scrap of paper&#x27;, pleads not guilty</a></div><p>She expects the court to reconvene on July 29 and consider the answer of Duterte to the summons and the House Prosecution Panel’s reply to her.</p><p>Duterte submitted to the impeachment court her answer on June 23, while the panel gave its reply on June 27. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/27/house-prosecution-asks-senate-impeachment-court-to-proceed-to-sara-duterte-trial-1658">House prosecution asks Senate impeachment court to proceed to Sara Duterte trial</a></div><p>“Parehong kinomply nila yan within the specified time frame ayon sa Rules of Impeachment ng Senado. So muli, mga patunay na di tulad ng sinasabi ng iba, the impeachment trial is alive and ongoing,” Hontiveros said.</p><p>“And at any one time, may mga motions din na pwedeng isumite ang sinomang panig sa kanila para sa konsiderasyon naming mga senator-judges at ako rin bilang isa sa mga senator-judge, I will present yung opinyon ko at eventually yung boto dun sa formal answer ad cautelam at pati sa reply.”</p><p>She called on Escudero to administer the oath to the new senator-judges since the impeachment court is a continuing court.</p><p>Hontiveros maintained the impeachment process could cross over to the 20th Congress.</p><p>“Pinanghahawakan ko kahit yung condition, isa sa mga condition, nung mga bumoto na i-remand yung impeachment complaint sa House of Representatives dahil pangalawang kondisyon nila yung kailangan mag-certify yung House of Representatives of the 20th Congress that they are willing and ready to continue prosecuting the impeachment complaint,” Hontiveros said.</p><p>“I am prepared and we will be prepared i-argue na kailangang tapusin ng Senate impeachment court ang kanyang trabaho.” </p><p>Senator Joel Villanueva also said there should be a trial.</p><p>“Yung provision ng Constitution, yung initiation, exclusive sa House; trial, exclusive sa Senate. For me, parang napaka-clear. We need to have trial,” he said in a press conference.</p><p>Villanueva also highlighted the importance of being objective and following the right process.</p><p>“Tama po yung pag-assess, pag-implement at pagtugon namin dito sa impeachment proceedings rather than doon sa whether dismissal or acquittal. Yun ang tingin ko na mas importante. Walang kinikilingan,” he stated. “Para po sa akin, and I can speak for myself, ang magiging basehan ng ating boto ay pagpresenta ng ebidensya dito sa impeachment court.”</p><p>Senator Tito Sotto also expects the impeachment court to be reconvened on July 29 to tackle the articles of impeachment in order to give the prosecution and defense teams a chance to give their side.</p><p>“Hindi pupuwedeng i-dribble yun, hindi pupuwedeng babalewalain yun, hindi puwede because it&#x27;s what the Constitution says. We have to follow the Constitution,” Sotto said.</p><p>Senator Erwin Tulfo, meanwhile, reiterated that there should be a trial to give the public a chance to determine the truth.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oEwDunEYanM" title="Incoming senators on VP Sara impeachment: What Kiko, Erwin, Tito said | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Senator Risa Hontiveros said the impeachment court should proceed with the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and not entertain a motion to dismiss or convict.</p>

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the impeachment court should proceed with the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and not entertain a motion to dismiss or convict.

Hontiveros says no to motion to dismiss Sara Duterte impeachment case, trial must proceed

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Hontiveros says no to motion to dismiss Sara Duterte impeachment case, trial must proceed

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 30, 2025 03:16 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 30, 2025 10:50 PM PHT

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motion to dismiss

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