VP Sara seeks dismissal of impeachment complaint

Vice President Sara Duterte, through her legal counsel, has sought the dismissal of the fourth impeachment complaint filed against her, arguing that it violates the 1987 Constitution's one-year bar on multiple impeachment proceedings against the same official.

- By DHEL NAZARIO

In her formal Answer Ad Cautelam submitted to the Senate impeachment court, Duterte's camp asserted that the complaint is void ab initio due to non-compliance with Section 3 (5), Article XI of the Constitution. This provision strictly prohibits the initiation of more than one impeachment proceeding against the same public official within a 12-month period.

The House of Representatives received a copy of Duterte's answer ad cautelam at 3:53 p.m. The document was delivered by Arnel Barrientos Jr., a messenger from the law firm Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar. He arrived in the Senate at 5:49 p.m.