House formally defers accepting returned impeachment articles
House of Representatives Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe has filed a resolution certifying that the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte adhered to the provisions of the 1987 Constitution. The House adopted the resolution on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. — Photo from House of Representatives
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has formally deferred acceptance of the articles of impeachment returned by the Senate, through a resolution adopted by the chamber.
During the plenary session on Wednesday, House Resolution (HR) No. 2346 was adopted by the House, certifying that the impeachment proceedings initiated by the House last February 5 adhered to provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
The resolution was filed by Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., and Deputy Speaker David Suarez.
Deputy Speaker Roberto Puno, who was presiding over the session, asked the deputy secretary general to read the resolution.
“House Resolution 2346, 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,” the deputy secretary general said.
In response, Deputy Majority Leader Faustino Dy V moved that the secretary general issue the certification.
“Mr. Speaker I move to direct the secretary general to issue the certification in accordance with the adopted resolution,” Dy said.
“Is there any objection? The chair hears none, the motion is approved,” Puno replied.
Dy made another motion, this time to defer the acceptance of the articles after HR No. 2346 was adopted.
“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,” Dy said.
“There is a motion to defer acceptance of the articles of impeachment until such time that the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, 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.
Earlier, Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro said that the prosecution team will seek clarification from the Senate regarding its decision to remand the articles of impeachment against Duterte before accepting it again.
In a press briefing, Luistro said the prosecution panel is confused by the Senate’s order, because they maintain that the articles of impeachment submitted to the Senate last February 5 were in line with the 1987 Constitution.
Luistro said they wish to file the motion seeking for clarification within the day.
On Tuesday evening, 18 senator-judges voted in favor of the motion introduced by Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano, which sent back the articles of impeachment against the Vice President to the House to ensure that constitutional safeguards and issues of jurisdiction were not violated.
Two issues were mentioned: concerns on whether the articles of impeachment did not violate the Constitutional provision stating that only one impeachment complaint can be initiated against an impeachable official; second, that the articles do not step on the jurisdiction and authority of the 20th Congress.
READ: Senate votes to send Duterte impeachment back to House
The decision to remand the articles stemmed from a motion made by Senator-Judge Ronald dela Rosa to dismiss the complaints against Duterte, which was amended by Cayetano.
Only five members of the 23-person impeachment court opposed the motion. /das
