Senate President Francis Escudero and Vice President Sara Duterte. | PHOTOS: Senate PRIB and official Facebook page of Inday Sara Duterte
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Should the Senate refuse to immediately act on the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, will the House of Representatives bring the matter to the Supreme Court?
According to Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, there is no discussion yet regarding the matter.
鈥淣one yet, because we have yet to meet again this week, I mean the prosecution team. And considering that the prosecution team is a collegial body as well, I submit to the wisdom of the entire prosecution team,鈥� she told reporters in an online press conference on Monday.
鈥淒efinitely, I will be raising that to our fellow prosecutors to check or to look into possible options so that the impeachment trial could proceed, but we will see after the next meeting what would be the position of the prosecution team,鈥� she explained in a mix of English and Filipino.
Later on in the presser, she was again asked whether or not the matter would be brought to the Supreme Court if no immediate actions were taken.
Luistro said it would only be conducted if the prosecution team, including the majority members of the House of Representatives, decides on it.
鈥淪ubject to the condition that all of us in the prosecution team, including the majority of the members of the House, will be inclined to do or resort to that option,鈥� she said.
鈥淟et us always remember that the prosecution team is not representing our personal interests and as a matter of fact, we are representing the position of [the House], to be particular, the 215 signatories of the impeachment complaint, so we need to look into the wisdom, position, and possible options which we might be hearing from other members of the House of Representatives,鈥� she added.
Last Feb. 5, the House impeached Duterte with garnering 215 signatures from lawmakers.
On the same day, the Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate, but the upper chamber adjourned its session without tackling the document.
READ: VP Sara Duterte impeachment complaint reaches Senate