Senate serves writ of summons vs. Sara Duterte

The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday issued a writ of summons against Vice President Sara Duterte in relation to her impeachment case.

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Manuel Parlade led the serving of the written summons.

In a message to reporters, the Office of the Vice President confirmed receipt of the summons at 10:40 a.m.

Under Resolution 39 or the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trial, Duterte has a non-extendible period of 10 calendar days from receipt to file her pleadings on the impeachment case, and will be ordered to appear before the Senate "upon notice."

The prosecution, on the other hand, may file a reply within a non-extendible period of five calendar days from receipt of her reply.

The Senate on Monday convened as an impeachment court for the trial of the vice president, who is facing allegations of culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.

This came after the House of Representatives, voting 257-25, impeached Duterte for the second year in a row on May 11.

House receives copy of summons

The Office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives received a copy of the summons at 11:44 a.m., as well as a copy of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano's instruction to Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Director Manuel Parlade to deliver the summons to Duterte.

Both copies courtesy of Rep. Terry Ridon

'Last opportunity for Sara to answer allegations'

Bicol Saro Representative Terry Ridon said the House impeachment prosecution panel, of which he is a member, expects the vice president's camp to not just raise jurisdictional and constitutional questions but answer the allegations as well.

"Our expectation is it will be more substantial than what had been submitted before. Kasi in the previous answer po to the House Committee on Justice, it was basically just a very short response to all of the allegations. So hindi ho talaga [it really was not] point per point," he said.

"But our expectation now is they will still be raising jurisdictional and constitutional questions, which they actually did the last time. But also, hey will probably answer point per point yun pong Articles of Impeachment already, only because this is the last opportunity for the Vice President to actually answer all of the allegations." — VDV/BM, GMA News