In a pivotal move, the Senate—sitting as an impeachment court—voted 18-5 on Tuesday night to return the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives.
The decision requires the House to certify that the impeachment complaint followed constitutional procedures, effectively pushing the trial into the next Congress.
The current Congress, which ends its term on June 30, starts its sine die adjournment on Friday, June 13. The new Congress starts its session on July 28, when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his annual State of the Nation Address.
Senate President Chiz Escudero, however, still issued a writ requiring Duterte to answer the charges within 10 days. A five-day window follows for the House to comment. Escudero suspended the hearings until a future date yet to be set.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano underscored that the decision does not dismiss the case against impeached VP Duterte and recognizes fact that the trial could continue even with the convening of a new Congress.
The motion sidestepped Senator Bato dela Rosa’s bid to dismiss the case outright, signaling both caution and a willingness of the Senate to proceed amid mounting protest against the delay in the trial.
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