Senate asked to summon Sara on impeach charges

The House prosecution panel urged Senate President Chiz Escudero to issue a writ of summons requiring Vice President Sara Duterte to respond to the articles of impeachment.

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Prosecutor Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan (4Ps Party-List) filed the motion before Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. on Tuesday, March 25. He was informally appointed as the lead impeachment prosecutor, but has already been authorized to “sign all pleadings for and on behalf of all public prosecutors” of the House.

Rep. Rodge Gutierrez (1-Rider Party-List), also a prosecutor in the impeachment trial, accompanied Libanan in filing the motion. Reps. Paolo Ortega V (La Union, 1st District) and Jay Khonghun (Zambales, 1st District) were also present.

At a press conference, Libanan said the motion to issue summons should have been filed earlier as the Constitution mandates that the trial proceed “forthwith.” He said it was filed on March 14.

He explained that the prosecution panel delayed the filing because the Senate said it was on break, which is the case for the whole of Congress. However, following the Senate hearing led by Sen. Imee Marcos on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, they decided to file the motion this week.

WHAT IS A WRIT OF SUMMONS?