Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel Saddened by Return of Impeachment Articles to House
KOKO PIMENTEL – The Senate Minority Leader cited that there is allegedly no concept of “return to sender” in the legal process.
Following an 18-5 voting, the Senate moved to return the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. The Vice President was impeached by the lower chamber last February 5.
The motion to return the articles of impeachment against Duterte was made by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero who was one of those who voted in favore of the motion clarified that the move does not mean that the impeachment case was dismissed.
According to Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, the returning of the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will not dismiss the case but give the prosecutors a chance to answer questions. Only five (5) senator are not in favor of Cayetano’s motion.
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel and Sen. Risa Hontiveros who previously moved so Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero can take his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court in Duterte’s trial were among those who voted against Cayetano’s motion to return the articles of impeachment to the House. The other three (3) senators were Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, and Sherwin Gatchalian.
No senator abstained from the voting. Here are the 18 senators who voted for the returning of the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House:
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Robin Padilla
- Bong Revilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel admitted that he is disappointed and saddened by the Senate’s decision to return the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House. Based on a report on GMA News, he also noted that there is allegedly no concept of “return to sender” in the legal process.
“Ako’y nalulungkot; may saving grace na lang tayo na may pinadala na summons,” Pimentel, a former Senate President, said.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero previously said that summons will be issued against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte which proves that the impeachment case was not dismissed. However, a known Duterte ally, Sen. Bato dela Rosa, believes that the Senate no longer has jurisdiction over Duterte’s impeachment case now following the move to remand.