Sen Bato plans Senate vote on Duterte VP impeachment continuity

Sen. Bato dela Rosa plans to raise a motion in the Senate plenary to determine if the 20th Congress is willing to be bound by actions taken during Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial in the 19th Congress.

Dela Rosa made this announcement at a press conference on Wednesday, emphasizing that he wants senators to answer questions similar to those posed to the House of Representatives regarding jurisdiction and willingness to continue the case.

Unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate is a continuing body with half its members elected every three years, making the question of jurisdiction relevant for the new composition of the 20th Congress.

Dela Rosa clarified that his motion will be subject to a vote by the Senate as a legislative body and not as an impeachment court, aiming to see if the majority supports pushing through with the trial.

The senator also likened the impeachment trial to the work of the Commission on Appointments, arguing that unresolved cases go back to zero after each Congress.