Onlookers give Senate impeachment vote a thumbs down

Some guests in the Senate Session Hall gave a thumbs down during the voting on Senator Rodante Marcoleta's motion to dismiss the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

According to Raffy Tima’s Wednesday report on “Saksi,” the guests include four women and Kiko Aquino Dee, nephew of the late President Benigno Aquino III.

In a later message to GMA Integrated News, the group Akbayan said that their members had given the thumbs down and then walked out.

They were seen being approached by Senate staff and left the Senate Session Hall during Senator Imee Marcos' speech.

With 19 votes for, four against, and one abstention, the Senate voted to transfer to the archives the articles of impeachment against Duterte, following the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to declare her impeachment unconstitutional.

Marcoleta initially moved for the dismissal of the articles of impeachment but agreed to Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva's amendment that the complaint instead be archived.

Meanwhile, Michael Poa, the spokesperson of Duterte’s defense team, acknowledged the Senate’s decision.

“Our focus now remains on submitting our Comment, in compliance with the High Court’s Order,” he said in a statement. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News