Duterte tells impeachment court: ‘Raps vs me invalid from outset’
Vice President Sara Duterte wants the dismissal of the impeachment complaint filed against her, calling it “void ab initio” or invalid from the outset (VP Sara Duterte impeachment composite image from Inquirer files)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte wants the dismissal of the impeachment complaint filed against her, calling it “void ab initio” or invalid from the outset.
Duterte’s camp raised this argument in a 35-page document sent to the impeachment court on Monday.
“The Fourth Impeachment Complaint must be dismissed because: it is void ab initio for violating the One-Year Ban Rule under Section 3 (5) Article XI of the 1987 Constitution, which explicitly prohibits the initiation of more than one (impeachment),” the document reads.
The Vice President did not personally appear before the Senate on Monday, but the answer was filed at exactly 5:49 p.m. by Arnel Barrientos Jr., messenger of Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar law firm, which represents Duterte.
‘Filing with caution’
In an ambush interview shortly after the filing, Senate Secretary and Impeachment Court Clerk of Court and lawyer Renato Bantug said the defense may be filing it with caution, explaining that “ad cautelam” primarily means filing the pleading with caution in Latin.
But does this mean that the defense is not recognizing the jurisdiction of the court?
“Maybe in their minds, they like to reserve some arguments, but in compliance with the order of the court, [ay] nag file sila ng answer, but they are doing so with precaution,” Bantug answered.
Based on the timeline earlier presented by impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol, the House Prosecutors have five days to reply from the receipt of Duterte’s answer.
The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court on June 10, ordered the Vice President to answer the impeachment case filed against her.
Duterte was given a non-extendible period of 10 days to answer from the receipt of the writ of summons and the copy of the complaint per Article 7 of the impeachment rules.
Her office received the order on June 11.
READ: Sara Duterte impeachment: What you need to know
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives in a historic move, which garnered over 200 signatures from lawmakers.
The articles of impeachment accused Duterte of committing “high crimes,” including corruption and involvement in an alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her former running mate.
READ: Senate sends back impeachment articles to House for review
The charges stem primarily from her release and spending of P125 million in confidential and intelligence funds within 11 days of assuming office in 2022, which lawmakers say breached fiscal protocols and accountability standards.
Before her impeachment, three separate complaints in the House were filed against Duterte in December 2024./coa
