Senate Sends Sara Duterte Impeachment Case Back to House for Certification
2 min read
JUNE 11,2025
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court voted 18-5 to send the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte back to the House of Representatives. The senators clarified that this move did not dismiss the case.
On Tuesday, 22 senators took their oath as impeachment court judges. This followed the swearing-in of Senate President Francis Escudero as the presiding officer. The court should have had 23 members, but Senator Sonny Angara was recently appointed as Education Secretary by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The urgency came after Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano stepped in and amended the motion. Instead of a dismissal, he proposed sending the case back to the House for a certification confirming the complaint meets constitutional requirements.
A heated debate followed. Eventually, Dela Rosa pushed to bring the motion to a vote.
Senate Who Voted Against Returning the Case?
Five senators voted against the return. They wanted the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial:
- Koko Pimentel
- Risa Hontiveros
- Nancy Binay
- Grace Poe
- Sherwin Gatchalian
Senate Who Supported the Motion?
Eighteen senators voted in favor of returning the case to the House:
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- JV Ejercito
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Bong Revilla Jr.
- Robin Padilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Miguel Zubiri
- Francis Escudero
What Happens Next?
The House of Representatives must now certify that the impeachment complaint is not constitutionally infirm. Without this step, the Senate cannot move forward with the trial.
This development adds another layer of tension between the two chambers. It also puts the spotlight on the legal and constitutional processes tied to impeaching a high-ranking official like Sara Duterte.
Why It Matters
This issue goes beyond politics. It’s a test of the Philippines’ constitutional checks and balances. Many are watching to see how Congress handles high-profile accountability cases, especially when they involve key political figures. NOWTREND
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