📷: Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro
On Wednesday, House prosecutors expressed hope about the ongoing Senate trial of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, even though the Senate chose to send the complaint back to the House for clarification on specific legal issues.
Representative Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro from Batangas 2nd District, representing the House prosecution team, praised the summons issued to Vice President Duterte, highlighting that this step indicates the impeachment court has officially gained jurisdiction over the respondent.
“‘Yung pag-acquire ng [jurisdiction ng] impeachment court sa ating respondent, it only shows na tuloy na tuloy na ang impeachment trial,” said Luistro, adding “no one can stop this anymore.”
On Tuesday, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa contended that previous complaints filed against Duterte in the House—prior to their referral to a committee—constituted multiple impeachment proceedings within the same year, a practice expressly prohibited by the 1987 Constitution.
A majority of 18 senators voted in favor of remanding the impeachment case to the House, requiring certification that the proceedings adhered to constitutional provisions. Additionally, the Senate directed the House to confirm, upon convening in the 20th Congress, its commitment to prosecuting the case.
Luistro stated that the House intends to seek clarification from the impeachment court, presided over by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, regarding its directive to certify that the articles of impeachment comply with constitutional requirements.
She reiterated that the complaint was filed in full compliance with the 1987 Constitution and did not contravene the one-year bar rule.
Luistro further noted that it would be procedurally impossible for the 19th Congress to comply with the Senate’s second directive, given that the 20th Congress has yet to convene.
She underscored that the House had fulfilled its constitutional mandate in initiating the impeachment complaint and that any attempt to amend or withdraw the case at this juncture would be inappropriate.
“As a matter of fact the ball now is in the hands of the Senate, whose mandate by the Constitution is to try and to decide,” she asserted.
House impeachment prosecutor Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo cautioned on Wednesday that the Senate’s decision to return the impeachment complaint to the House establishes a “dangerous precedent,” arguing that it constitutes a “clear breach” of senators’ constitutional obligations and public trust.
“The option to remand does not exist—it is either acquittal or conviction following a trial. This action represents a blatant disregard for constitutional principles and democratic processes,” Defensor stated in an interview with DZMM.
The House of Representatives impeached Vice President Duterte in early February on charges of graft, corruption, and an alleged conspiracy to assassinate former ally and running mate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
A conviction—requiring the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the Senate’s 24 members—would result in Duterte’s removal from office and a permanent prohibition from holding public office.
Tuesday’s 18-5 vote occurred mere hours after senators were sworn in as senator-judges, following days of deliberations that raised concerns regarding the potential derailment of the trial process. (ZIA LUNA)
