MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday stressed the importance of adhering to the authority of the Senate impeachment court, following Speaker Martin Romualdez’s concerns regarding the Senate’s return of the impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives.
In response to Romualdez’s remarks, Escudero made it clear that both the House prosecutors and Vice President Duterte are expected to comply with the directives of the impeachment court.
“That is the decision of the impeachment court. As prosecutors, they should respect and follow that. The same goes for Vice President Sara; she should respect and follow the summons issued by the impeachment court,” Escudero told reporters.
He reiterated that the impeachment court operates independently, and the House cannot override its authority.
“The House is in no place to defy the orders of the impeachment court. This is not a bicam where we need to agree. This is the order of the impeachment court directed to the prosecutor, who is only a party to the case. The party and the Court are not equal,” Escudero said.
On June 10, the Senate convened as an impeachment court earlier than scheduled to tackle a motion filed by Senator Ronald dela Rosa, which sought to dismiss the complaint against Duterte. However, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano proposed an amendment, resulting in a different course of action.
Instead of dismissal, Cayetano’s motion called for the return of the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives under specific conditions:
A certification from the House confirming that the impeachment complaint does not violate the one-year rule stated in Article XI, Section 3, Paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which prohibits multiple impeachment attempts against the same official within a year;
A formal communication from the House declaring its readiness to proceed with the impeachment complaint.
The Senate’s decision has sparked debate, with the House expressing apprehension about the move. But for Escudero, the Senate’s role as an impeachment court demands respect and obedience — from both lawmakers and those facing trial.
