MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday urged the House of Representatives to comply with the Senate’s directives as an impeachment court, amid Speaker Martin Romualdez’s concerns over the return of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“That is the decision of the impeachment court. As prosecutors, they should respect and follow that. The same goes for Vice President Sara; she should respect and follow the summons issued by the impeachment court,” Escudero said during an ambush interview with reporters.
Escudero reiterated that the House does not hold equal authority with the Senate once an impeachment court is constituted. He emphasized that the impeachment process is not a bicameral setup where both chambers must agree.
“The House is in no place to defy the orders of the impeachment court. This is not a bicam where we need to agree. This is the order of the impeachment court directed to the prosecutor, who is only a party to the case. The party and the Court are not equal,” he added.
The Senate convened as an impeachment court on June 10, a day ahead of the previously scheduled session, to deliberate on a motion from Sen. Ronald dela Rosa to dismiss the impeachment case against Duterte. However, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano introduced a counter-motion aimed at sending the articles of impeachment back to the House.
Cayetano’s motion does not call for the dismissal of the case but instead outlines specific conditions that must be met before the Senate proceeds. These include:
A certification from the House confirming that there was no violation of Article XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which prohibits initiating more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official within a year;
A formal communication from the 20th Congress expressing its willingness and readiness to pursue the impeachment complaint.
The Senate’s move highlights ongoing tension between the two chambers regarding the handling of the impeachment case, and places pressure on the House to clarify its position and procedural compliance.
