Palace on return of VP Sara's impeachment case to House: Bongbong busy with work

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is focused and busy with his duties.

This was Malacañang's response when asked for a reaction on the move of the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, to return to the House of Representatives the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Marcos wants to serve the public by providing cheaper basic commodities, including rice. 

''Kung ang Senado, may mga ilang senador na busy sa pagtatanggol sa procedure at may mga senador na busy sa pagtatanggol sa Bise Presidente, ang Pangulo po ay busy sa pagtratrabaho,'' Castro said.

(If the Senate, some senators are pushing for the procedure while others are busy defending the Vice President, the President is busy with his work.)

''Gusto niya sana maibigay ang mababang presyo ng bigas, makapagbigay ng mababang presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin sa merkado at maibsan kung anuman pong paghihirap...'' she added. 

(He wants to provide cheaper price of rice, cheaper price of other commodities, and to ease the burden of the public.) 

During a plenary session on Tuesday, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa made a motion seeking that the verified impeachment complaint against the Vice President be dismissed "in view of its constitutional infirmities and questions on the jurisdiction and authority of the 20th Congress."

Senate President Francis ''Chiz'' Escudero then ruled that the impeachment court should first be convened first before acting on any motion to dismiss the impeachment complaint.

When the impeachment court was convened, senators debated on Dela Rosa's motion for hours. 

Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano then moved to amend Dela Rosa's motion that the articles of impeachment be returned to the House of Representatives instead, without dismissing or terminating the case. 

Castro, who is a lawyer by profession, said it would depend if this development will result in a constitutional crisis. 

''To remand back... kung ano man 'yung kanilang adhikain, hindi po natin masasabi (whatever their purpose in doing so, that we cannot tell),'' Castro said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News