By Jose Cielito Reganit
MANILA – The House of Representatives formally transmitted on Wednesday night the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to the Senate, marking the start of the next constitutional phase of the impeachment process and paving the way for a Senate trial.
The impeachment complaint, which was approved by the House plenary by an overwhelming vote of 257-25 with nine abstentions, was transmitted at exactly 7:22 p.m. by House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil to the Senate through Senate Secretary Mark Leandro Mendoza.
Garafil said the transmittal came after the completion of the reproduction, collation and verification of the impeachment records and supporting attachments, which reportedly ran into thousands of pages.
She explained that the Secretariat prioritized the accuracy and completeness of the records before transmission.
“The transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment marks the beginning of the next constitutional phase of the process, and the House Secretariat made sure that all records were complete and in proper order prior to submission,” Garafil said in a statement.
“The accuracy of our submission is our paramount concern,” she added.
The Articles of Impeachment stemmed from findings and recommendations contained in Committee Report No. 261 adopted by the House through House Resolution No. 989.
The complaint cited allegations of misuse of confidential funds, violations of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption and other impeachable offenses.
With the formal transmittal, the Senate is constitutionally mandated to convene as an impeachment court to try the Vice President.
The House leadership earlier rejected accusations that the transmittal was being delayed for political reasons, stressing that the Secretariat merely ensured the integrity, completeness and faithful reproduction of all records accompanying the impeachment complaint.
Lawmakers also pointed out that the impeachment package included voluminous documentary evidence, transcripts, certifications, Commission on Audit findings, financial records, affidavits and committee proceedings gathered during months of hearings conducted by the House Committee on Justice. (PNA)
