House motion to summon VP Sara formally served to OVP

By Filane Mikee Cervantes, Philippine News Agency

According to a statement, the Entry with Motion to Issue Summons was received by the OVP at 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday at its office on the 11th Floor of Robinsons Cybergate Plaza, Mandaluyong City. (PNA file photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The House of Representatives on Wednesday formally served the motion to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) notifying Vice President Sara Duterte of the impeachment proceedings initiated against her.

According to a statement, the Entry with Motion to Issue Summons was received by the OVP at 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday at its office on the 11th Floor of Robinsons Cybergate Plaza, Mandaluyong City.

The motion, received by the Senate on Tuesday, requests Senate President Francis Escudero to issue a writ of summons to Duterte, directing her to respond to the verified impeachment complaint within 10 days of receipt.

House Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor defended the prosecution panel’s decision to request the summons, asserting that it is within the bounds of law and the Senate rules on impeachment trials.

“Lagi naming irerespeto ang Senate president as the presiding judge ng impeachment court.

At gagawa lang kami ng prosesong mga legal based on the existing Senate rules of impeachment (We will always respect the Senate president as the presiding judge of the impeachment court. We will only undertake processes that are legal based on the existing Senate rules of impeachment),” Defensor said in a radio interview.

He acknowledged Duterte’s current presence in The Hague in The Netherlands where her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, is detained in connection with the charges he is facing before the International Criminal Court.

However, Defensor highlighted Duterte’s obligation to address the impeachment proceedings:

“Being the Vice President, while you have a father to take care (of), you also have a nation to look after and a nation you have to see that you are accountable for your actions,” he said.

The impeachment complaint, endorsed by 215 members of the House, was transmitted to the Senate on Feb. 5, in accordance with Section 3, Article XI of the Constitution.

This section stipulates that when a verified complaint is filed by at least one-third of all House members, it constitutes the Articles of Impeachment, and the Senate shall proceed with the trial.