Senate remands VP Duterte's impeachment back to House

Senate President Francis Escudero defended on Wednesday the Senate's decision to remand the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte back to the House of Representatives.

Escudero emphasized that as presiding officer of the court, he has yet to receive the House resolution certifying compliance with the 1987 Constitution, one of two conditions asked by the Senate court before resuming trial in July.

The impeachment court expects Vice President Duterte to respond to her summons issued by the Senate to answer the charges.

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel noted that while the House fulfilled the first condition, the Senate might have to wait for the 19th Congress to certify if the next Congress is still interested in prosecuting the case.

Former Supreme Court associate justice Adolfo Azcuna acknowledged that remanding the articles of impeachment was a novel and unprecedented step but within constitutional bounds, ensuring proper crossover from one Congress to another.