House transmits to Senate articles of impeachment vs. VP Sara Duterte

The House of Representatives formally transmitted the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate on Wednesday evening (March 13).

According to a report of the Philippine News Agency, the move marks the beginning of the next constitutional phase of the process and sets the stage for a Senate trial.

The impeachment complaint was approved by the House plenary by an overwhelming vote of 257-25 with nine abstentions.

The PNA said the impeachment complaint was "transmitted at exactly 7:22 p.m. by House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil to the Senate through Senate Secretary Mark Leandro Mendoza."

The transmittal has been issued after the reproduction, collation, and verification of the impeachment records. The PNA said the supporting attachments consist of thousands of pages.

Garafil explained that the Secretariat prioritized the accuracy and completeness of the documents before they were sent.

“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,” Garafil said.

The PNA explained that the Articles of Impeachment stemmed from the findings contained in Committee Report No. 261. This was adopted by the House through House Resolution No. 989.

The complaint cites allegations of misuse of confidential funds, violations of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other impeachable offenses.

Following the formal transmittal, the Senate is constitutionally mandated to convene as an impeachment court to try the Vice President.

The House leadership has addressed concerns regarding the timing of this transmittal, clarifying that the Secretariat required sufficient time to ensure the integrity, completeness, and faithful reproduction of all accompanying records.

The impeachment package comprises extensive documentation gathered during months of hearings by the House Committee on Justice.

This includes documentary evidence, transcripts, certifications, Commission on Audit findings, financial records, affidavits, and committee proceedings.

-Paraluman News