House defends impeachment process for VP Sara Duterte

The House of Representatives has defended its compliance with constitutional requirements in impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte and sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco stated that they only learned about two petitions filed before the Supreme Court through media reports and have not received official copies yet.

Velasco emphasized that the House followed all necessary steps as outlined by the 1987 Constitution when filing and transmitting the articles of impeachment, personally delivering them to the Senate on February 5.

San Juan City lone district Representative Ysabel Maria Zamora claimed that there is sufficient evidence to warrant Duterte's removal from office and perpetual disqualification from holding any public position.

Duterte's camp, including her father former President Rodrigo Duterte, filed a petition with the SC on Tuesday to halt the proceedings based on alleged constitutional violations.

Despite ongoing debates and legal challenges, the articles of impeachment were sent to the Senate as required by the Constitution, with questions remaining about whether the current or next Congress should handle the trial.