Jonathan Frederic De Santos

In submission to SC, House asserts VP Sara impeachment followed rules

Work is being done on the interiors of the Batasang Pambansa on July 15, 2024, as the House of Representatives prepares for the coming State Of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22.

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The House of Representatives has complied with the Supreme Court order to submit more information on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, the chamber&#x27;s spokesperson said, stressing the proceedings followed the Constitution.</p><p>House spokesperson Princess Abante said the Office of the Solicitor General, the House&#x27;s legal counsel, filed the compliance online  through the Philippine Judiciary Portal on Friday and has served all parties copies.</p><p>A physical copy will be formally submitted to the high tribunal on Monday. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/17/groups-call-on-gov-t-to-start-impeachment-trial-vs-duterte-1703"><strong>Groups call on Chiz, gov&#x27;t to start VP Duterte impeachment trial<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT THE SUPREME COURT WANTED TO KNOW</strong></div><p>• The status of the first three impeachment complaints from private citizens</p><p>• The number of session days that lapsed from the time the complaints were properly endorsed to their transmittal to the Office of House Speaker and their inclusion in the Order of Business.</p><p>• Whether the House Secretary General has discretion on when to transmit the complaints to the Office of the House Speaker.</p><p>• Whether Vice President Duterte was given the opportunity to be heard regarding the evidence supporting the Articles of Impeachment  </p><p>• Which office or committee prepared the draft Articles</p><p>• Whether that draft was circulated to all House members accompanied by evidence</p><p>• Whether House members “had time to peruse the charges and the evidence” before signing the Articles of Impeachment transmitted to the Senate.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOUSE: ALL RULES FOLLOWED </strong></div><p>In its submission, the House maintained that all four impeachment complaints in the lower chamber were processed in accordance with the 1987 Constitution.</p><p>Abante said the first three complaints were all included in the Order of Business within the 10-session day period prescribed in the House rules.</p><p>In the run-up to the filing of the fourth complaint, House Secertary Reginald Velasco had acknowledged delays in the transmittal of the first three complaints, saying these were still undergoing verification by his office’s legal team.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/2/4th-impeachment-complaint-looms-vs-sara-duterte-1708"><strong>4th impeachment complaint looms vs Sara Duterte</strong></a></div><p>“The fourth complaint, signed and verified by more than one-third of House Members, effectively constituted the Articles of Impeachment and was transmitted directly to the Senate, rendering the earlier complaints moot and subject to archiving,” Abante said.</p><p>She said Duterte will get the opportunity to confront evidence during her impeachment trial before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.</p><p>The Articles of Impeachment accuse Duterte of alleged graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes. </p><p>These include the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.</p><p>Duterte has denied the allegations and has attributed them to politics. She has also questioned the constitutionality of the impeachment proceedings at the Supreme Court, which prompted the SC order. </p><p>“We reiterate that the Vice President’s right to due process is fully preserved through the impeachment trial itself—where she will have the opportunity to defend herself and present evidence,” Abante said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/18/senators-split-on-aug-4-start-of-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-1604"><strong>Senators split on Aug. 4 start of Sara Duterte impeachment trial</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOUSE CLAIMS EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY OVER INTERNAL MATTERS</strong></div><p>The House also argued it has exclusive authority over internal deliberative matters, Abante said, citing the separation of powers.</p><p>“There is no constitutional requirement detailing how individual members must review the complaint before signing, nor is there any basis for questioning their certification under oath that they studied and understood the charges and supporting documents,” she added.</p><p>Abante said the House is committed to &quot;transparency, constitutional fidelity, and upholding the rule of law&quot; and said it trusts the Supreme Court to &quot;accord the same deference&quot; to its prerogatives as a co-equal branch of government.</p>

<p>House spokesperson Princess Abante said the Office of the Solicitor General, the House's legal counsel, filed the compliance online through the Philippine Judiciary Portal on Friday and has served all parties copies.</p>

House spokesperson Princess Abante said the Office of the Solicitor General, the House's legal counsel, filed the compliance online through the Philippine Judiciary Portal on Friday and has served all parties copies.