The impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte has hit a procedural wall after the Senate voted 18-5 to remand the articles of impeachment back to the House of Representatives, citing unresolved constitutional issues.
The move has raised concern among legal experts, with University of the Philippines College of Law assistant professor Michael Tiu, Jr. calling the Senate’s decision “alarming” and lacking constitutional grounds. “It is in limbo,” he said in an ABS-CBN News report, warning that the process appears to be entering a pattern of delays.
Tiu emphasized that under the Constitution, the Senate is obligated to act on the articles of impeachment once transmitted by the House, not return them. “Nakakapagtataka at in fact, nakakabahala itong pag-remand na ito. Walang constitutional basis ‘yan,” he said.
He argued that the House and the Senate, though separate chambers, are equal in power and duty under the impeachment process. Only the House can initiate impeachment, and the Senate is tasked to try and decide such cases — not question the House’s judgment. “It’s a disrespect actually of the House of Representatives,” he said.
Tiu also questioned the logic of the Senate’s demand for the House to reaffirm its constitutional compliance, saying, “Parang hindi nagmi-make sense… The transmittal of the articles of impeachment itself is the certification from the House.”
With the trial now stalled, Tiu urged those supporting the impeachment to act. “We can communicate to our senator-judges na ito ang view ng taongbayan,” he said, encouraging the public to engage their representatives. “Invested dapat ang taongbayan dito… You can call your senator-judges.”
The House must now decide whether to reaffirm its stance and resubmit the impeachment case — or see it fade amid rising political friction.
