Senate remands Duterte impeachment complaint to HoR

The Senate as an impeachment court decided on Tuesday night to return the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives.

Out of 23 senator judges, 18, including Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who sat as the presiding officer voted in favor of the motion to return the impeachment complaint to the lower house.

Only Senator-judges Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Risa Hontiveros, Win Gatchalian, Grace Poe, and Nancy Binay voted against the motion.

Senator-judge Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa originally moved to dismiss the impeachment case, however, Senator-judge Alan Cayetano amended it to just “remand” based on the proposal of Senator-judge Bong Go.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on 5 February, with 215 lawmakers — more than two-thirds of its members — voting in favor.