Senate’s Return of Impeachment Complaint Draws Sharp Criticism
Congressman-elect Chel Diokno of the Akbayan Party-list has voiced a clear response to the Senate’s controversial return of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. The lawyer and incoming House member urged Filipinos to focus their attention on the Senate’s actions instead.
“I think the ball should be thrown back to the Senate,” Diokno said in a brief interview on Wednesday, June 11. “We should call on the Senate to conduct the trial as the Constitution commands,” he emphasized.
This statement highlights the growing concerns surrounding the Senate’s recent move, which puzzled many constitutional experts and legal analysts. Instead of proceeding with the impeachment trial, the Senate opted to send the complaint back to the House, effectively delaying the process.
Senate’s Motion to Return Complaint Raises Questions
The decision stemmed from motions made by senator-judges expected to remain neutral. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa initially pushed to dismiss the impeachment complaint outright without holding a formal trial. Later, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano amended this motion to simply return the complaint to the House—neither dismissing nor terminating the case.
This maneuver means the House prosecution team’s scheduled appearance before the Senate for the impeachment trial did not proceed as planned on Wednesday. Instead, the team convened internally to reassess their next steps.
Implications as Congress Nears Adjournment
The timing of this move is critical, as the 19th Congress is set to adjourn sine die after Wednesday’s plenary session. The Senate’s return of the impeachment complaint has triggered debate on whether this move respects constitutional procedures or undermines the impeachment process.
Local leaders and constitutional scholars have expressed deep concern over the Senate’s handling of the matter. Many argue that the Senate should fulfill its constitutional duty by conducting the impeachment trial without unnecessary delays.
For more news and updates on impeachment proceedings, visit Filipinokami.com.