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‘This is not a political exercise. This is a constitutional duty,’ says Speaker Martin Romualdez
MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Martin Romualdez closed the 19th Congress in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 11, sounding the alarm on the Senate’s decision to send back the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“The decision of the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, to return the articles of impeachment is deeply concerning. These articles were transmitted by this chamber in accordance with the constitution, and with the overwhelming support of 215 members who answered the people’s call for accountability,” Romualdez said.
The Senate remanded the complaint to the House to allow the latter to certify that it did not violate the 1987 Constitution.
Senator Bato dela Rosa’s approved motion claimed that the House deliberately sat on the first three impeachment complaints in December, before approving a fourth complaint in February. He argued that it violated the constitutional one-year ban rule, which states that only one impeachment proceeding can be initiated against the same official in one year.
In remanding the impeachment articles, the court asked for two things: first, for the House to certify that it did not violate a constitutional rule when it proceeded with the impeachment of the Vice President; second, for the House of the 20th Congress to express willingness to push through with the trial.
“The House of Representatives acted not out of haste, but with deliberate care. We followed the law. We honored our mandate. And above all, we stood for what the Filipino people deserve — a government that answers to its citizens,” Romualdez said.
“This is not a political exercise. This is a constitutional duty,” he added.
Romualdez vowed to comply with the requirements “not to abandon our cause, but to ensure the process continues.”
Before Congress adjourned sine die, the House approved a resolution certifying that Duterte’s impeachment did not violate the Constitution.
The House also approved a motion deferring the acceptance of the remanded articles of impeachment until the Senate provides clarification on its order.
House prosecutors had said it would be impossible for the chamber to fulfill the second condition set by the Senate because the 20th Congress won’t convene until late July.
The remanding of the impeachment articles delays the full trial even further, and raises concerns from the opposition that it would not proceed at all.
Duterte was impeached in February on the grounds of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
She is accused of misusing confidential funds, bribery, alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao, and plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., among others.
Duterte has denied wrongdoing, and claimed that the impeachment process is politically motivated. – Rappler.com
