House Prosecution Seeks Senate Clarification on Impeachment Court Orders
The House prosecution panel will request clarification from the Senate impeachment court regarding its recent directives tied to the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The panel aims to align closely with the Senate’s decisions while ensuring full compliance with constitutional requirements.
Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro expressed the panel’s intention to be on the same page as the senator-judges. “Now, with respect to the action of the Senate last night (Tuesday), the impeachment court requiring us to issue a certification about the compliance with the Constitution with respect to the filing of the impeachment complaint,” she shared during a press conference on Wednesday, June 11.
Senate Orders Return Impeachment Articles
On Tuesday, the senator-judges voted 18-5 to send the seven articles of impeachment back to the House of Representatives. The Senate requested certification that the complaint aligns with the 1987 Constitution before proceeding.
Regarding this first order, Luistro insisted, “Sumunod po kami fully and strictly to the requirements of the Constitution (We fully and strictly followed the requirements of the Constitution).” She emphasized, “We did not violate the one-year prohibition rule.”
Confusion Over Future Congressional Actions
The Senate’s second order asked the House if it would continue pursuing the same impeachment complaint during the upcoming 20th Congress. This directive left the prosecution panel puzzled.
“Medyo ang prosecution panel po ay nalalabuhan dito sa naging order ng impeachment court kagabi (To the prosecution panel, the order issued by the impeachment court last night is somewhat unclear),” Luistro noted. She explained the issue by saying, “It is impossible to be complied with because first of all, 20th Congress doesn’t exist yet. Tayo po ay nasa ikalabing-siyam na Kongreso pa lamang. Mag-aadjourn pa po and we will be looking forward na mag-convene naman ang [ika-dalawampung] Kongreso ng Pilipinas.”
Currently, the Philippines is still under the 19th Congress, which will adjourn soon. The 20th Congress is expected to convene on July 28, coinciding with the State of the Nation Address (SONA). Wednesday marks the final session day of the current 19th Congress.
Next Steps for Prosecution Panel
Given the ambiguity of the Senate’s orders, the prosecution team plans to file a motion for clarification within the day. They seek clear guidance to proceed confidently while respecting constitutional boundaries.
For more news and updates on impeachment trial developments, visit Filipinokami.com.