MANILA — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero clarified Wednesday that the Senate impeachment court can vote on a motion to dismiss the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte—if such a motion is filed by a senator-judge or her legal team.
“There’s no such thing as a prohibited motion,” Escudero told reporters, emphasizing that the Constitution or impeachment rules do not forbid any type of motion. He added that any motion raised must be voted on by the Senate, which functions as a collegial impeachment body.
Escudero’s comments come after Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa moved to dismiss the complaint outright. However, the motion was amended to return the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives pending additional certifications.
Escudero noted that while a simple majority is sufficient for procedural motions, a two-thirds Senate vote is still required to convict an impeachable official. He also pointed out that a motion to dismiss could logically signal a lack of support for conviction.
He added that Vice President Duterte’s legal team may also file a dismissal motion during the trial, citing her earlier “answer ad cautelam,” which argues the complaint violates the constitutional one-year bar on multiple impeachment filings.
However, Escudero also warned that motions aren’t limited to dismissal. “Someone could also move to convict her outright. I wouldn’t vote for it, but I can’t stop it,” he said.
In response, House spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante reiterated that the Senate is constitutionally mandated to hold a full impeachment trial—including the presentation of evidence by both the prosecution and the defense—before reaching a verdict.
Abante emphasized that the House has fulfilled its role in the process, having over 200 members endorse the impeachment complaint and formally transmit it to the Senate. She added that the prosecution is focused on preparing for the upcoming trial, regardless of the Senate’s next move.