House wants Senate to clarify 'unclear' order to remand VP impeachment case

CONGRESSMEN-PROSECUTORS want the Senate to clarify its decision to return the impeachment complaint against Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio to the House of Representative.

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The prosecutors will draft a motion to seek clarification from senator-judges about their order to “remand” the impeachment complaint against Ms. Duterte, who is facing a trial that could end her political career.

“The prosecution panel sees the impeachment court order last night somewhat unclear,” Batangas Rep. Gerville R. Luistro, a House prosecutor, told a news briefing in mixed English and Filipino on Wednesday. “So we have decided to seek clarification from the impeachment court.”

“With respect to the... certification of our compliance with the Constitution in filing the impeachment complaint, we stand by our position — we fully and strictly adhered to the constitutional requirements,” she added.

More than 200 congressmen signed the impeachment complaint against the Vice-President, who was accused of secret fund misuse, unexplained wealth, acts of destabilization and plotting the assassination of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., his wife and the Speaker.

Ms. Duterte has denied any wrongdoing.

Ms. Duterte’s impeachment at the House should not be questioned by senator-judges, because it “enjoys a presumption of legality,” Ms. Luistro said.

She cited the ruling of then Presiding Judge and Senator Juan Ponce Enrile during the impeachment trial of the late Chief Justice Renato C. Corona in 2011.

“He stated in the resolution that when the two basic requirements are met — namely, the signature of at least one-third of all House members and the verification — the filing of the impeachment complaint already carries a presumption of legality and can no longer be questioned, unless there is a strong controverting evidence.” she added.