House formally transmits VP Sara impeachment case to Senate

By Jose Cielito Reganit, Philippine News Agency

(Philippine News Agency/facebook)

MANILA – The House of Representatives on Monday formally endorsed and ordered the transmission to the Senate of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The move came a few hours after the House voted 257-25-9 to impeach Duterte for the second time, with lawmakers approving House Resolution No. 989 together with the findings, conclusions, and recommendations contained in Committee Report No. 261.

“Mr. Speaker, I move to endorse to the Senate the resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment, together with all the annexes pursuant to the rules of House on Impeachment Proceedings,” Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo said on the plenary floor.

“Further, I move that the Secretary General be directed to prepare and transmit the same to the Senate for appropriate action in accordance with the Constitution and the rules of the House.”

Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez, who presided over the session, approved the motion after hearing no objection from the chamber.

“The resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment, together with all annexes, is hereby endorsed to the Senate,” he said.

Defensor also moved to furnish copies of the committee report, the Articles of Impeachment, and the annexes to Duterte, the complainants, and the legal counsels of the parties upon transmission of the documents to the Senate.

Hernandez again approved the motion without objection.

The formal endorsement marked the final action of the House in the impeachment proceedings before the case moves to the Senate, which is expected to convene as an impeachment court.

Duterte faces allegations involving misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, graft and corruption, and threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.