House Prosecution Rebuts Vice President Sara Duterte’s Claims
MANILA, Philippines — The House Prosecution panel firmly disputed Vice President Sara Duterte’s statements in her answer ad cautelam, accusing her of making several misleading and false material statements in the impeachment case.
On June 27, the prosecution submitted a detailed 37-page document to the impeachment court as their official response to Duterte’s pleading filed earlier on June 23. This reply addresses the Vice President’s request to dismiss the impeachment complaint against her, which she labeled as “void ab initio,” meaning invalid from the start.
According to the prosecution, they received Duterte’s answer ad cautelam on June 23. They cited Rule VII of the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials, which allows prosecutors five non-extendible days to file their reply from the date of receipt.
The prosecution emphasized that their reply was timely and pointed out that Duterte’s filing contained numerous misleading and false statements that warrant scrutiny by the impeachment court.
Senate Impeachment Court Deliberations and Motions
The Senate convened as an impeachment court on June 10 to consider a motion filed by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa seeking to dismiss the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte. However, the session took a turn when Senator Alan Peter Cayetano moved to amend this motion.
Cayetano’s amendment proposed returning the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives rather than outright dismissal or termination of the case. The motion outlined two key conditions before the case could proceed:
- The House must certify that the impeachment complaint does not violate Article XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which prohibits filing multiple impeachment complaints against the same official within one year, considering the first three complaints filed against Duterte.
- The House of Representatives from the 20th Congress must formally communicate its willingness to pursue the impeachment complaint against the Vice President.
What’s Next in the Impeachment Process
The House prosecutors’ firm rebuttal to the Vice President’s statements marks a critical phase in the impeachment proceedings. Their document challenges the validity of Duterte’s claims and calls for a thorough examination of the facts presented.
As the impeachment court evaluates these submissions, the case remains in a state of flux, with both sides actively presenting their arguments in this high-profile political trial.
Local leaders and sources following the case noted the importance of adhering strictly to procedural rules and constitutional provisions throughout the process.
For more news and updates on the impeachment proceedings, visit Filipinokami.com.