Bato admits initiating Senate reso to dismiss VP Sara impeach case

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Wednesday admitted that he was behind the Senate resolution seeking to dismiss the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte. 

"Galing 'yun sa office ko (It came from my office)," he told reporters in an ambush interview. 

Dela Rosa, a known ally of the Duterte family, firmly nodded when asked if he was the one who initiated the drafting of the resolution. 

"Meron [akong] pinagtatanungan na mga kasamahan, kinokonsulta (I'm asking some colleagues and making consultations)," he added.

Asked if he has gathered enough support from fellow senators, Dela Rosa said he’ll provide information once the number is “sizable.” 

He also said that he would still evaluate if he would file his own version of the resolution, noting that some senators have also made their own drafts, which may all be incorporated into one. 

Without dropping any names, Dela Rosa disclosed that he has seen three other draft resolutions so far, with his version being the original. He said that this may be filed next week, if not finished within the day. 

“‘Yung ibang mga kasamahan namin may ibang draft, so siguro i-incorporate ‘yun kung anumang magaganda provision sa kanilang draft para mapaganda ‘yung final version at magiging acceptable sa lahat—’yung pwedeng makuha suporta ng lahat, ng karamihan,” Dela Rosa explained. 

(My other colleagues have made their own drafts, so we may just incorporate all the good provisions in our drafts to make the final version better and be acceptable to everyone—one that can get the support of everyone, the majority.) 

Earlier on Wednesday, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero denied that a resolution seeking to declare Duterte's impeachment case as "de facto" dismissed has been filed in the upper chamber.

Several other lawmakers said that they have not seen a copy of the circulating document, but Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Imee Marcos both admitted the existence of such drafts. 

Asked if VP Duterte has any idea that there were such moves in the Senate regarding her looming impeachment trial, Dela Rosa said she might not. 

“Ewan ko lang kung pumutok na ito ngayon ‘di ba, mabasa niya ‘yung mga balita na ‘yan. Ewan ko kung nakarating sa kanya. Pero sabihin mo ako personally magre-report sa kanya, no. That’s my own initiative. Galing ‘yan sa akin. Wala siyang pakialam dito,” he said. 

(I just don't know if she’ll be able to read right away once the news explodes. I don't know if it will reach her. But I don’t report to her personally. This is my initiative. She has nothing to do with this.) 

He also said that the resolution was made in support of the manifestation of Senator Francis Tolentino earlier. 

To recall, Tolentino had said Monday that the impeachment case against Duterte will be considered “functionally dismissed” if the Senate impeachment court is unable to finish the trial before June 30, 2025. 

The reading of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte was moved from June 2 to June 11. 

Escudero said that this was decided in order for the Congress to prioritize the passage of the items in the administration's legislative agenda before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die on June 14.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. 

Duterte has denied the allegations against her, but said she was looking forward to her impeachment trial in the upcoming 20th Congress because she “wants a bloodbath."

She later clarified that she meant her own blood, even likening the impeachment trial to a crucifixion. — VDV/RSJ, GMA Integrated News