MANILA, Philippines – The Senate has voted to return the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives, leaving the future of the case uncertain. The Senate voted 18-5 to halt the proceedings and demand that the House first prove that the case does not violate the Constitution.
The Senate’s Vote and Its Impact
On June 10, 2025, the Senate made the decision to pause the impeachment trial. This decision was made after Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, a close ally of Sara Duterte, moved to dismiss the impeachment case. Dela Rosa argued that the case should be dismissed due to constitutional issues.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano amended the motion, proposing to return the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives for clarification without dismissing the case entirely. The motion passed, with 18 senators supporting it, while 5 senators voted against it.
Constitutional Questions and Requirements
The motion requires the House of Representatives to certify that the impeachment does not violate Article XI, Section 3, Paragraph 5 of the Philippine Constitution, which states that no impeachment proceedings can be initiated against the same official more than once within a year.
The House is also required to clarify the situation regarding the first three impeachment complaints filed against Sara Duterte in December 2024. This will determine if the impeachment proceedings can continue or if they need to be dismissed.
Opposition to the Motion
The five senators who voted against the motion, including Senator Koko Pimentel, Senator Risa Hontiveros, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Senator Grace Poe, and Senator Nancy Binay, raised concerns about the procedural implications of returning the case to the House.
Pimentel warned that the motion’s language could cause unnecessary delays and create confusion. Hontiveros argued that there was no need for the case to be sent back to the House and that the Senate could proceed with the trial without further delays.
Next Steps in the Impeachment Process
With the impeachment case now sent back to the House, the House of Representatives must take action to provide the necessary certification and clarification before the case can continue in the Senate. This delay means that the trial may not resume until the 20th Congress convenes in July 2025.
Senator Escudero clarified that the presentation of the articles of impeachment scheduled for June 11 would no longer happen, as the case is now with the Senate Rules Committee.
Conclusion
The Senate’s decision to return the impeachment case to the House of Representatives has caused uncertainty in the impeachment process. The House must now prove the constitutional compliance of the case, and how quickly it acts will determine whether the trial can resume during the current Congress or carry over to the next one.
References:
- Philstar.com, ”Uncertainty as Senate votes to return Sara Duterte’s impeachment case to House,” June 2025
- GMA News, “Senate Votes to Return Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Case to House,” June 2025
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