House to respect Senate decision on impeachment trial: lawmaker

By Filane Mikee Cervantes, Philippine News Agency

IMPEACHMENT PROCESS. (L-R) Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, Iloilo 3rd District Representative Lorenz Defensor, and 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez brief reporters on the impeachment process during a press conference on Thursday (Feb. 6, 2025). Defensor said they would respect the Senate’s decision on when to convene as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. (Photo courtesy of the House Press and Public Affairs Bureau via PNA)

MANILA – The House of Representatives will respect the Senate’s decision on when to convene as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, a lawmaker said Thursday.

“We will respect the institution of the Senate, how they will interpret ‘forthwith,’ gaano kaaga nila aktuhan ito (how soon they will act on this), we will respect that,” Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor said in a press conference.

“Pero sana matuloy lang ang paglilitis na ito (But hopefully, this trial proceeds) because this is the perfect opportunity for all parties, especially the Vice President,” he added.

One of the designated prosecutors in Duterte’s impeachment trial, Defensor said the impeachment process is sui generis, or a “class of its own,” making it distinct from the regular legislative process.

Since it is not part of the legislative process, Defensor said the Senate “can convene anytime that they are ready without waiting for session to open on June 2.”

Senate President Francis Escudero, however, said Duterte’s impeachment trial would not start until the Senate resumes session in June.

During the Kapihan sa Senado forum Thursday, Escudero explained that an impeachment can only be convened in a plenary session, citing Senate rules that state “the Senate President shall take proper order of the subject of impeachment.”

The House on Wednesday impeached Duterte and immediately transmitted the complaint to the Senate, with over 200 lawmakers supporting the move.

Secretary General Reginald Velasco said at least 215 House members had verified and sworn in support of the impeachment complaint – the fourth one filed against Duterte since December.

Congress adjourned its sessions to allow for the election campaign and will resume on June 2 until June 13.

Defensor explained that what had concluded was the legislative calendar and the legislative power of both the House and the Senate.

However, he noted that the impeachment process, being a separate constitutional function, could continue into the next Congress if necessary.

On the question of whether prosecutors assigned by the House will be retained in the next Congress, 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, another designated prosecutor, said it would depend on Senate rules.

“We have to understand the Senate is a continuing body. The House of Representatives is not. If ever we have a new composition in the 20th Congress, then I think they will just elect a new set of prosecutors if ever.

It does not stop the process,” Gutierrez said.

Defensor said the matter would also depend on impeachment court rules.

“Kung meron po tayong isang kasamahan sa House of Representatives na hindi papalarin at hindi makakatuloy sa (f we have a colleague in the House of Representatives who is not fortunate enough to continue in the) 20th Congress, if the Senate rules on impeachment will provide that private prosecutors can participate during the impeachment trial, then maybe they can continue as private prosecutors. It would all depend on the impeachment court once they convene and set forth their rules on impeachment,” Defensor said.

The House has appointed 11 members to serve as prosecutors in the impeachment trial: Gutierrez, Defensor, Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, Rep. Romeo Acop, Rep. Joel Chua, Rep. Raul Angelo “Jil” Bongalon, Rep. Loreto Acharon, Rep. Marcelino Libanan, Rep. Arnan Panaligan, Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, and Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores.