Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said the Senate’s decision to return to the House of Representatives’ improvisation complaints “deeply worrying”.
“I’m not in disdain, but in the guidance of obligations, guided by responsibility,” he said in a speech in the House Wednesday night. “As an impeachment court, the Senate’s decision is a matter of returning the impeachment clause.”
He added: “The House of Representatives’ actions are not out of rush, but under intentional care. We comply with the law, we respect our demands and, above all, we represent what the Filipino people deserve.”
Senators voted Tuesday night to return the impeachment complaint to the House of Representatives to clarify its constitutionality, asking the House of Commons to prove they legally enacted allegations of removal against Ms. Duterte, who was impeached without a hearing.
The House of Representatives may be February, Ms. Duterte, 47, may be the next president.
She denied all the allegations, from an abnormal budget to accumulating unusual wealth, threatening the life of his wife and Speaker President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
“It is the responsibility of the House to maintain transparency and to demand responsibility without worrying,” Mr Romualdez said, adding that when the vice president was imposed, they comply with the law.
More than 200 members of Congress signed an impeachment complaint against the vice president.
Ms. Duterte’s impeachment was the culmination of a months-long dispute with Mr. Marcos as they came after House allies initiated an inquiry about her use of confidential and intelligence funds.
The Philippines’ president is limited to a six-year term and Mr. Marcos is expected to seek to maintain his political influence by anointing successors.
The Speaker said the House will comply with the Impotence Court orders to ensure the process continues.
The House floor earlier passed a resolution proving an improvisation lawsuit against Ms. Duterte “respect” the Constitution, ahead of Mr. Romadez’s speech.
House resolution No. 2346 confirmed that the chamber adhered to the rules of procedure when the chamber voted to sue Ms. Duterte.
Members of Congress also voted through a voice vote to agree not to accept the Senate’s impeachment complaint as members of Congress sought clarification on the Senate’s decision.
Senate President Francis G. Escudero said Wednesday that the House has the responsibility to answer Senate questions.
“It is inappropriate for the House to not comply with the orders of the Impotence Court,” he told reporters. He pointed out that the issues at the trial were different from those in the Senate and House bills that could be eliminated in the committee of the bisattvas.
He added: “This is an order from the Impotence Court, focusing on prosecutors who are only parties to the case. The parties and the court are not equal.”
He said the Impotence Court had provided Ms. Duterte with a 10-day response, and the House would have five days to submit a reply. – Kenneth Christian L. Basilio
