Chiz tells House: Respect Senate court's decision

Senate President Francis Escudero defended yesterday the court's move to remand the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives.

- By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Escudero said as presiding officer of the court, he has yet to receive the House resolution certifying that the Articles of Impeachment were compliant with the 1987 Constitution — one of two conditions asked by the Senate court when it returned the case to the House prosecution.

"As the prosecuting panel, they (House) should respect and comply with the decision of the court," Escudero said on the sidelines of the Independence Day rites at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, where he delivered a speech as guest speaker.

He added that the impeachment court also expects Vice President Duterte to respond to the summons issued to her to answer the charges.

Escudero denied that the Senate "dribbled" the case by remanding it to the House as he also rejected the pos sibility of a "deadlock" after the House deferred receipt of the remanded Articles of Im peachment pending further clarification from the Senat on its directive.

"The impeachment court is sui generis, a class of it own. The court can do whatever it wants to do according to a vote," Escudero said.

"What we did was the extent that the 19th Congres could do before it adjourned! It is not my style like that i the House of Representative to criticize the actions of the other chamber. I will respect their actions the same way I expect the House to respect our actions, whether as the Senate or an impeachmer court," he added.