The House of Representatives formally deferred the acceptance of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, following its adoption of House Resolution 2346.
During the Congress’ regular session on Wednesday, June 11, Deputy Majority Leader Faustino Dy V moved to consider House Resolution 2346.
“Mr. Speaker, I move to consider House Resolution 2346. Therefore, my request to [the deputy] secretary general to read the title of the resolution,” Dy said, addressing Deputy Speaker Roberto Puno, who was presiding over the session.
Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., and Deputy Speaker David Suarez filed the resolution, certifying that the “impeachment proceedings initiated on February 5, 2025 against the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines, Sara Zimmerman Duterte, fully complied with Article XI, Section 3, Paragraph 5 of the 1987 Constitution, including the circumstances on the filing of the first three impeachment complaints.”
In response, Dy also moved to direct the secretary general to issue the certification under the adopted resolution—to which Puno approved.
Following the resolution’s adoption, Dy moved that the House defer the acceptance of the remanded articles of impeachment from the Senate.
“Mr. Speaker, I move to defer acceptance of the articles of impeachment until such time as the Senate sitting as an impeachment court has responded to the clarificatory queries raised by the panel of prosecutors relative to the remand of the subject articles,” he motioned.
“There is a motion to defer acceptance of the articles of impeachment until such time as the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, has responded to the clarificatory queries raised by the panel of prosecutors relative to the remand of the subject articles. Is there any objection? The chair hears none, the motion is carried,” Puno replied.
In a press conference on Wednesday, the House Prosecution panel admitted that they were also confused as to why the Senate Impeachment Court remanded the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President back to the House.
“Ang prosecution panel po ay nalalabuan dito sa naging order ng impeachment court kagabi, so we resolve to seek the clarification of the impeachment court. With respect to the first order, about the certification pertaining to our compliance with the Constitution in filing the impeachment complaint," House Prosecution panel member and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro explained.
The lawmaker elaborated that the panel maintains its position and determinedly said they “fully and strictly” followed the requirements of the Constitution.
