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Bato to ask 'new' Senate if it has jurisdiction over impeachment case

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

MANILA —  Sen. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; dela Rosa on Wednesday said he will raise the question of the jurisdiction of the Senate in the 20th Congress over the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, which began in the 19th Congress.&quot;Ang pinakaunang motion ko is to determine whether or not the Senate of the 20th Congress is willing to be bound by the actions of the previous Senate,&quot; he said.Dela Rosa said he wants senators to also answer the question the Senate impeachment court is asking the House of Representatives, which has been required to submit certification that it intends to continue prosecuting the impeachment case.&quot;So gusto ko rin tanungin rin ang Senado. Kasi pareho naman &#x27;yan. Nagtatanong tayo ng jurisdiction ng bagong Congress dahil nga iba na ang composition,&quot; he said.(So we also want to ask that, because it is the same. We will ask about jurisdiction of the new Congress because the composition has changed)Unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate is a continuing body, with half of its 24 members elected to six-year terms every three years. Dela Rosa also declined to answer categorically if he will again seek the dismissal of the impeachment case.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/9/-dutert7-backs-escudero-for-senate-presidency-bato-1415">&#x27;Dutert7&#x27; backs Escudero for Senate presidency: Bato</a></div>He also likened the impeachment trial to the work of the Commission on Appointments — a body composed of representatives of the House and Senate and that vets presidential appointments. &quot;It is a non-legislative function of the Senate. But why? But why? Pag matapos yung isang Congress, yung mga nakasalang dyan na hindi na hindi na-resolve yung kanilang confirmation, ay back to zero pagdating sa next Congress (Those who are not confirmed at the end of a Congress go back to zero),&quot; he said.He argued &quot;the same is true with impeachment.&quot; He said he wants to raise the question to see if the majority of the Senate supports pushing through with the impeachment trial.&quot;Majority wins dito. Pero kung sabihin ang majority na walang jurisdiction, so ano pang patuloy natin kung nadesisyunan na walang jurisdiction?&quot;(Majority wins here. But what if the majority says the Senate has no jurisiction, how can we continue if the Senate decides it has no jurisdiction?)<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/8/duterte-opposition-blocs-senate-siblings-emerge-as-majority-under-escudero-ejercito-1617">Duterte allies, Senate siblings, opposition lawmakers emerge as majority under Escudero: Ejercito</a></div> Dela Rosa said his question will be subject to a vote by the Senate as a legislative body and not as an impeachment court.&quot;We are talking about new composition ng Senado. So I am asking the Senate, not the impeachment court,&quot; he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/10/bato-raises-alleged-legal-infirmities-in-sara-duterte-impeachment-1720">Bato moves to dismiss Sara Duterte impeachment case</a></div>Dela Rosa hopes for the support of the six other Duterte allies in the Senate but added they have not discussed it yet.

"Majority wins dito. Pero kung sabihin ang majority na walang jurisdiction, so ano pang patuloy natin kung nadesisyunan na walang jurisdiction?" Dela Rosa said.

"Majority wins dito. Pero kung sabihin ang majority na walang jurisdiction, so ano pang patuloy natin kung nadesisyunan na walang jurisdiction?" Dela Rosa said.