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House of Representatives spokesperson, lawyer Princess Abante said. has expressed "deep concern" over the Senate's plan to vote on the Supreme Court's (SC) junking of the Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment complaint next week.
"We express deep concern over reports that the Senate may vote to act on the [SC] decision regarding the impeachment case against the Vice President—without waiting for the House of Representatives to exhaust its available legal remedies," Abante said in a statement Saturday, Aug. 2.
"Let us be clear: the decision of the [SC] is not yet final. The House of Representatives, as the body vested by the Constitution with the exclusive power and authority to initiate an impeachment, will file a motion for reconsideration [MR] soon," she said.
Reports said that the House will file an MR on Monday. The Office of the Secretary General (OSG) represents the House, which is seeking an impeachment trial against Vice President Duterte.
"We call on our dear Senators to exercise prudence and patience, and allow the judicial process to reach its rightful conclusion," Abante said.
Last Tuesday, the 24-member Senate held a caucus during which the senators agreed to take up next week the matter of the high court's decision declaring the impeachment case unconstitutional for violating the one-year bar provision of the Charter.
Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said the Senate impeachment court's vote on the SC ruling will be held Wednesday, Aug. 6.
A group led by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, the endorser of the first impeachment complaint filed against the Vice President in December 2024, filed an MR before the SC Friday, Aug 1.
It was the fourth impeachment complaint against the lady official that actually prospered and was signed by 215 House members last Feb. 5. While this effectively impeached Vice President Duterte, the Constitution says she must undergo trial at the Senate to determine her guilt or innocence based on the articles of impeachment.
Abante said that the filing of an MR "is a matter of constitutional right and institutional integrity".
The House mouthpiece had earlier cited possible errors with how the high court arrived at its decision. She added it may have also arbitrarily changed the rules of the impeachment process.
"For issues as transcendental as this—and especially when there appear to be factual errors upon which the legal conclusions were drawn—sheer prudence dictates that the Senate allow the [SC] to hear the House in its MR," Abante said.
"Any premature action—such as a Senate vote effectively abandoning the impeachment trial—may be interpreted as a disregard of due process. Worse, it may be construed as a political shortcut that undermines the constitutional role of the House," she underscored.
Abante underscored the importance of preserving the integrity of the impeachment process as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.
"This is not just about the House or the Senate. This is about protecting our democratic institutions and upholding the system of checks and balances embedded in our Constitution."
"The House remains committed to the rule of law and will exhaust all legal remedies to protect its constitutional mandate—and to ensure that accountability is not casually brushed aside," she further said.
