House Defers Acceptance of Articles of Impeachment Early
The House of Representatives on Wednesday night, June 11, formally deferred the acceptance of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. This move came after the Senate impeachment court remanded the documents, prompting the House prosecution panel to seek clarification from the senator-judges.
During the final plenary session before the 19th Congress adjourned sine die, Isabela 6th district Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy proposed a motion to delay acceptance. He directed the House secretary general to hold off on accepting the impeachment papers “until such time as the Senate sitting as an impeachment court has responded to the clarificatory queries raised by the panel of prosecutors relative to the remand of the subject articles.”
House Deputy Speaker and presiding officer, Antipolo 1st district Rep. Roberto Puno, carried the motion after a simple voice vote. “Is there any objection? The chair hears none, the motion is carried,” Puno declared following Dy’s proposal.
Constitutional Compliance Affirmed Despite Deferral
Minutes before deferring the acceptance, the House also adopted House Resolution (HR) No. 2346. This resolution affirmed that the impeachment complaint against Duterte complied with constitutional requirements. It confirmed that the proceedings, initiated on February 5, 2025, were “endorsed and verified by at least one third” of House members. Furthermore, the process fully abided by Article XI, Section 3, Paragraph 5 of the 1987 Constitution, including provisions regarding the filing of multiple impeachment complaints.
This constitutional clause states that “no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year.” To ensure transparency, Dy moved to instruct the secretary general to issue a certification aligned with the adopted resolution, which Puno also approved.
Senate Remands Articles for Clarification
On Tuesday, the Senate impeachment court decided to send back the articles of impeachment to the House. Their goal was to certify that no constitutional provision had been violated. Additionally, the Senate sought confirmation that the incoming 20th Congress would be prepared and willing to continue pursuing the impeachment complaint against the Vice President.
During a Wednesday press briefing, the House prosecution panel stated they would first request detailed explanations from the Senate impeachment court regarding the reason behind the articles’ return.
The ongoing interplay between the House and Senate highlights the careful constitutional process required in impeachment cases. Both chambers aim to ensure fairness and clarity before moving forward with such a significant political action.
For more news and updates on impeachment proceedings, visit Filipinokami.com.