Zamora: How will Sara Duterte answer impeachment court summons?
San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora. — Photo from Atty. Bel Zamora/Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has asked the Senate as to what would be the basis of Vice President Sara Duterte’s response to its summons, when the articles of impeachment were sent back to the House of Representatives.
In an ambush interview on the sidelines of Independence Day celebrations in San Juan City, prosecution team member and San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora noted that the summons issued to Duterte asks her defense team to reply to the accusations stated in the articles.
However, with the articles sent back to the House, Zamora is unsure what accusations Duterte will base her answers on.
“They are the impeachment court, and well it’s not under the constitution that they can return or remand the articles of impeachment. Again, they issued a summons, so it does not make any sense that they will return the articles of impeachment. What will they attach with the summons?” Zamora asked.
“Of course they have to include the articles to the summons, because that is what the Vice President will answer. Even if it is not stated in their rules, they do not have the authority — that is our stand — to remand the articles of impeachment,” she added.
This confusion, Zamora said, is also the basis for their decision to file a motion to clarify the Senate’s order.
“This is the reason why we have asked, or we will ask clarification on the resolution that they issued,” she noted.
On Tuesday evening, 18 senator-judges voted in favor of the motion introduced by Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano, which effectively sends back the articles of impeachment against the Vice President to the House.
The reason for the remand was 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
However, the Senate also sent a summons to Duterte on Wednesday, a day after the motion was made.
On the same day, prosecution team member and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro said that they will file a motion to seek clarification from the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, regarding its decision to remand the articles.
Until their questions are addressed, Luistro said the House would defer acceptance of the returned articles. She however clarified that their actions are not in defiance of the Senate order, but is just a desire to clarify possible issues.
The House also adopted a resolution certifying that no Constitutional provisions were violated when Duterte was impeached, through a fourth resolution filed and signed by 215 lawmakers, last February 5.
The House also formally deferred acceptance of the remanded impeachment articles. In his speech before the 19th Congress ended its session, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez expressed concerns over the Senate’s move, insisting that the articles adhered with provisions stated in Article XI of the 1987 Constitution.
READ: Remand of impeachment articles concerning, but we’ll comply – Speaker
According to Romualdez, they will comply with the directive of the Senate, but this is to ensure that the impeachment process pushes through. /das
