Archiving raps belonged to Senate impeachment court, say pro-impeach senators

The senators who voted against the transfer to the archives of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte questioned how the Senate impeachment court lost its exclusive jurisdiction over impeachment cases with the Supreme Court's decision that found the complaint unconstitutional and void.

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Vicente Sotto III, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and Sen. Bam Aquino voted against the motion to archive.

Nineteen other senators voted ‘yes,’ and Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson abstained. 

“We believe archiving the case is a matter exclusively within the powers and jurisdiction of the Senate impeachment court, kaya lay on the table sana ang maayos na proseso under our rules,” Pangilinan said. 

(Leaving on the table was the proper procedure under our rules.)

“The impeachment court being ousted of its jurisdiction by the Supreme Court is unprecedented... and sadly, as we read the ruling, the decision is based on the wrong facts. It is disturbing,” he added. 

Pangilinan also said that he voted no because it is better to await the SC’s resolution on the motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives. 

Sotto left a lingering question while he explained his vote: “How can the Senate archive something that is not before it? The articles are before the impeachment court.”

His motion to leave on the table Sen. Rodante Marcoleta's motion as regards what to do with the articles of impeachment was lost before the Senate plenary voted on the motion to archive.

"May God have mercy with your decision," Sotto said.

Hontiveros also reiterated that the SC decision “is not yet final” despite it being executory. 

“So make no mistake, this was an act of the Senate. It is our institution which, in the words of colleagues, killed the articles of impeachment,” she lamented. –NB, GMA Integrated News