Sara Duterte’s office receives impeachment court summons

Vice President Sara Duterte—GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s office on Wednesday received the writ of summons issued by the Senate Impeachment Court in connection with her trial.

READ: VP Sara Duterte ordered to answer impeachment case against her

The Office of the Vice President received the writ of summons at 11:05 a.m.

Upon receipt of the writ of summons, Duterte was given a non-extendible period of 10 days to answer the complaint against her, in accordance with Article 7 of the impeachment rules.

The Senate formally convened as an impeachment court on Tuesday and ordered Duterte to appear before the court to stand trial.

The order followed a majority vote by senator-judges in favor of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s motion to return the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives “without dismissing nor terminating the case.”

READ: Impeachment court sends Sara Duterte case back to House

While both Duterte’s office and her defense team have declined to comment on the perceived delay by the Senate in proceeding with the trial, her legal team asserted that the impeachment process initiated against her suffers from “serious constitutional infirmities.”

Duterte’s legal team has also repeatedly stated that they are ready to face the charges in the trial./mcm