Here’s what VP Sara Duterte pleaded.
In a submitted Answer Ad Cautelam, VP Sara Duterte pleaded that the impeachment case against her is unconstitutional.
Senator Chiz Escudero, the presiding officer, had left matters regarding the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte to the 20th Congress. The senators of the 19th Congress, with no abstentions, voted to return the articles of the impeachment trial to the House of Representatives.
Based on a previous article, VP Sara has 16 lawyers ready to defend her in this trial. Attorney Sigfrid Fortun takes the lead of her legal team. The other lawyers are:
- Gregorio Y. Narvasa II
- Sheila C. Sison
- Carlo Joaquin T. Narvasa
- Roberto A. Tungpalan-Bacalc
- Justin Nicol B. Gular
- Lindon Miguel L. Miguel
- David Ronell M. Golla VII
- Maria Selene Golda R. Fortun
- Claribae F. Radoc
- Francesca Marie Y. Flores
- Miguel Carlos A. Fernandez
- Michael Wesley T. Poa
- Reynold S. Munsayac
- Mark C. Vinluan
- Ralph B. Bodota
They are to defend the vice president from these six allegations:
- Conspiracy to Assassinate President Marcos, First Lady, and Speaker Romualdez
- Malversation of P612.5 Million in Confidential Funds
- Bribery and Corruption in DepEd
- Unexplained Wealth and Failure to Disclose Assets
- Involvement in Extrajudicial Killings (Davao Death Squad)
- Destabilization, Insurrection, and Public Disorder
In an Answer Ad Cautelam submitted, VP Sara pleaded that the impeachment case is unconstitutional. According to her, it should be dismissed for “violating the one-year bar rule” of the 1987 Constitution.
The lower chamber received the document on Monday, June 23. Based on Section 3 (5) of Article XI, 1987 Constitution, “no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year.”
Meanwhile, the vice president has until June 23 to respond to the Articles of Impeachment from the Senate impeachment Court sent to her on June 12.
What can you say about this? Let us know in the comments!