THE DEFENSE team of Vice President Sara Duterte acknowledged the Senate’s decision to set aside the articles of impeachment pending the Supreme Court’s ruling on the motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives.
In a brief statement, Atty. Michael Wesley T. Poa, speaking on behalf of the defense team, said, “The Defense Team acknowledges the Senate’s decision to adhere to the Supreme Court ruling and archive the Articles of Impeachment.”
“Our focus now remains on submitting our comment, in compliance with the High Court’s Order,” Poa added.
On Tuesday, Aug. 5, the High Court issued an order giving the vice president and his legal team 10 days to comment on the 70-page motion filed by the Lower House, represented by the Office of the Solicitor General.
The motion seeks to overturn the earlier Supreme Court ruling striking down the articles of impeachment as unconstitutional and void ab initio.
On Wednesday, Aug. 6, the Senate mothballed the articles of impeachment on a vote of 19-4 and 1 abstention in deference to the Supreme Court ruling.
The session began with a privilege speech by Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who urged the Senate to dismiss the case, citing the Supreme Court’s 13-0 en banc decision.
The Supreme Court’s ruling found the complaint to violate the one-year constitutional bar rule procedurally defective and outside the Senate’s jurisdiction, as the complaint itself was unconstitutional.
In response, senators Vicente Sotto, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, and Kiko Pangilinan filed a “motion to table” Marcoleta’s proposal, arguing that the Supreme Court’s ruling was not yet final and executory due to a pending motion for reconsideration from the House of Representatives.
They maintained that the Senate has the sole constitutional authority to try impeachment cases.
However, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano intervened, emphasizing the importance of respecting the Supreme Court’s authority.
Cayetano proposed an amendment to Marcoleta’s motion, changing it from a “motion to dismiss” to a “motion to archive,” which was agreed upon by Marcoleta. Archiving formally sets the matter aside, and it can only be revived through a formal motion.
Senators who voted to ARCHIVE (19): Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Bato Dela Rosa, Robin Padilla, Mark Villar, Camille Villar, Imee Marcos, Lito Lapid, Raffy Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, Joel Villanueva, Migz Zubiri, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Sherwin Gatchalian, Rodante Marcoleta, and Chiz Escudero.
Senators who voted to TABLE (4): Tito Sotto, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino
Abstained: Ping Lacson
