Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Wednesday admitted that he was behind the draft Senate resolution seeking the “de facto” dismissal of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Dela Rosa, who initially distanced himself from the unnumbered resolution, said his motive was to defend the eldest daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
He clarified that the Vice President was not informed of his move, which appeared to preempt the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment scheduled for 11 June.
“No. I don’t know now because this has already blown up – the news has come out. I don’t know if it has reached her, but if you’re asking whether I personally reported it to her? No,” Dela Rosa told reporters in an ambush interview.
“That is my own initiative. It came solely from me. She has nothing to do with this. This is just ours.”
“Whether or not I can get support from the majority, I am confident that I make a stand as far as the issue is concerned,” he added.
Prior to Dela Rosa’s admission, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero denied knowledge of such a resolution.
“I don’t know. No such resolution filed nor pending as of last night when I left a little before 10 PM,” Escudero said in a message to reporters.
He downplayed the document, saying it was just a “mere scrap of paper” unless officially filed before the Senate.
“Any circulating resolution without a named author, which was merely shown to me by the media, is, as they say, a mere scrap of paper — unless someone files it, unless someone authors it, unless it is debated, and unless it is voted on,” Escudero said.
“As of last night, even this morning when I asked due to media inquiries, there is no such resolution — nothing of that kind or similar — that has been filed or submitted in the Senate. So we have no resolution to act upon, whether identical, related, or similar to what is currently circulating.”
Several senators — including Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, Joel Villanueva, Risa Hontiveros, and Cynthia Villar — also claimed they had not seen any such resolution.
In contrast, Senator Imee Marcos confirmed having seen multiple drafts of Senate resolutions seeking to dismiss Duterte’s impeachment case.
“One of the many drafts, with different purposes — that looks like the third one I've seen. There are many versions, all looking for the most effective and legally sound solution, one without loopholes,” Marcos said.
In a later interview, she called for a caucus among senators to properly discuss the impeachment complaint.
“It was his [Dela Rosa’s] initiative, but there have already been several drafts. I don’t know if it will push through, if that’s really the final one. It depends.”
“Definitely, it will be thoroughly discussed. There are so many options and so many unclear ones, so what we want is the one most aligned with the law and also the fastest, because we only have a few days left. Just three days remain.”
“If it will be carried over to the 20th Congress, that’s also a big question. We don’t know. That’s why it has to be discussed carefully. That’s why I’m urging the Senate President to call for a caucus already,” she said.
To recall, Escudero had moved the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment to 11 June — the final session day of the 19th Congress. Initially scheduled for 2 June 2025, this step marks the start of formal impeachment proceedings, where the Senate constitutes itself as an impeachment court.
Dela Rosa claimed that several senators had already expressed support for the resolution but declined to say how many.
“Many already. I’ll just wait. I already have a number, but I can’t say yet how many. The number can be anywhere from zero to 24, right?” he said jokingly.
He confirmed that he would be the main author once the resolution is officially filed, though he’s open to co-authorship.
“That will come out once there’s a final draft.”
The senator also said the resolution would automatically be raised in plenary once submitted.
“I'll see because there are others who have drafts too — maybe I'll incorporate those. So the final version will be better and acceptable to everyone.”
He said he’s eyeing to file the resolution either today or on Monday, 9 June — just two days before the scheduled presentation of the Articles of Impeachment.
Dela Rosa also responded to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who questioned the constitutionality and accuracy of the draft resolution.
“Whatever, we each have our own opinion. That was studied. My legislative staff did research on that,” Dela Rosa said.
Earlier, Pimentel expressed skepticism, calling the resolution flawed.
“Flawed logic. Big chance not authentic. Even quotation of the constitutional provision is not accurate,” Pimentel told reporters via text.
The unnumbered resolution reportedly argues for the “de facto” dismissal of Duterte’s impeachment case “by operation of the 1987 Constitution.”
“[T]he presentation of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate plenary is scheduled on 11 June 2025, or a mere two (2) days before the Sine Die Adjournment of the 19th Congress on 13 June 2025,” the draft reads.
“[T]his leaves the current Congress with no sufficient time to fully deliberate and resolve the Articles of Impeachment as the matter cannot cross over to the incoming 20th Congress which will convene on the fourth Monday of July 2025.”
“[C]onsistent with the foregoing, the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Duterte must necessarily be deemed de facto dismissed, by virtue of the inability of the Senate to properly consider the same because of the timing of the transmittal thereof by the House of Representatives,” it adds.
The resolution cites Article XI, Section 3 (6) of the 1987 Constitution: “The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. When sitting for that purpose, the Senators shall be on oath or affirmation.”
It also references Article III, Section 16, which guarantees “all persons the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.”
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on 5 February with 215 lawmakers — over two-thirds of its members — voting in favor.
Conviction in the Senate would remove her from office and bar her from holding public office in the future. The Senate needs two-thirds of its members — or at least 16 out of 24 votes — for a conviction.