House to Senate: Wait for SC impeach appeal

The House of Representatives is urging the Senate to wait for the Supreme Court to rule with finality on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte before taking a vote on the high court's order.

- JOSE RODEL CLAPANO

"We express deep concern over reports that the Senate may vote to act on the Supreme Court decision regarding the impeachment case against the Vice President without waiting for the House of Representatives to exhaust its available legal remedies," House spokesperson Princess Abante said yesterday.

"Let us be clear: the decision of the Supreme Court is not yet final. The House of Representatives, as the body vested by the Constitution with the exclusive power and authority to initiate an impeachment, will file a Motion for Reconsideration soon," she said.

"This is a matter of constitutional right and institutional integrity," she added.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña said 19 to 20 senators were reportedly eyeing to vote for the dismissal of the impeachment case against Duterte even without a trial, using the SC decision as justification.

"There is an MR being filed by citizen petitioners in SC to reverse their decision. The Court must act on it first. Accountability and justice should not be left behind," Cendaña said.

Abante, meanwhile, stressed that the Senate should allow the judicial process to run its full course, considering the seriousness of the issue and in light of possible factual errors that may have influenced the high tribunal's initial ruling.

"For issues as transcendental as this and especially when there appear to be factual errors upon which the legal conclusions were drawn-sheer prudence dictates that the Senate allow the Supreme Court to hear the House in its Motion for Reconsideration," Abante said.