House: ‘Articles of impeachment’ vs Sara sent to Senate
The House of Representatives announced on Wednesday night its transmittal to the Senate of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, two days after she was impeached on vote of 257 House members.
In a statement, the chamber said Secretary General Cheloy Garafil had delivered House Resolution (HR) No. 989 to the Senate, officially sending Committee Report No. 261 that contains the articles of impeachment.
The step brings the Vice President closer to a trial, which the Senate is bound by the Constitution to conduct as an impeachment court.
“The House of Representatives formally transmitted on Wednesday night the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to the Senate, marking the start of the next constitutional phase of the impeachment process and paving the way for a Senate trial,” a press release from the chamber stated.
“The impeachment complaint, which was approved by the House plenary by an overwhelming vote of 257-25 with nine abstentions, was transmitted at exactly 7:22 p.m. by House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil, MNSA, to the Senate through Senate Sec. Mark Leandro ‘Dong’ Mendoza,” it added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca confirmed that Garafil arrived at the Senate for the transmittal.
On Tuesday, newly installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano vowed to convene the impeachment court upon the transmittal and start the Vice President’s trial “forthwith,” quoting the term used in the Constitution.
But civil society groups pushing for Duterte’s impeachment—and her eventual conviction and disqualification for any future government position—are wary of the new Senate majority now composed mostly of Duterte allies.
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