Senate receives VP Sara Duterte impeachment articles as Senate Secretary General Renato Bantug formally accepted the documents from House Secretary General Reginald Velasco at exactly 5:49 PM.
This comes after 215 members of the House of Representatives endorsed the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The move follows nearly two months after three impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte in the lower chamber.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a known ally of VP Duterte, stated in an interview that he had anticipated her impeachment in the House.
Dela Rosa noted that he had observed the strong efforts of congressmen to remove the vice president from office.
Jokingly, he remarked that while House members could now campaign, senators would have to fulfill their duties as impeachment judges.
Dela Rosa, who is seeking reelection, emphasized that while impeachment is a political process, he intends to remain impartial despite his good relationship with VP Duterte.
With Congress now adjourned, he said the Senate might only tackle the case in plenary by June or after the elections.
Meanwhile, House Secretary General Velasco stated that the next steps are now up to the Senate, as it is their constitutional mandate to address the impeachment complaint.
Velasco added that the Senate has the option to convene even during the break since impeachment is a legislative function of the upper chamber.
Should the Senate convene, he assured that the designated House prosecutors are ready to proceed.