A member of the House prosecution panel said on Tuesday they are thoroughly reviewing Vice President Sara Duterte’s official response to the articles of impeachment filed against her. The panel plans to submit its formal reply within the five-day period prescribed by the impeachment rules.
The House of Representatives received Duterte’s answer ad cautelam—a type of precautionary response—on Monday. This document outlines the Vice President’s initial arguments in response to the impeachment complaint.
“The entire prosecution team is currently studying each and every allegation contained in the Answer. Certainly, we will be filing a Reply within 5 days from receipt as provided in the Rules,” House impeachment prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro said in a message, indicating that the panel is closely evaluating the legal grounds raised by Duterte’s legal team.
In their answer ad cautelam, Duterte’s camp insisted that the impeachment complaint transmitted to the Senate “must be dismissed,” arguing that it is “void ab initio” or “void from the beginning.” According to them, the complaint violates a constitutional provision that prohibits more than one impeachment complaint from being initiated against the same impeachable official within a single year.
However, on June 11, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution certifying that the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte fully complied with the constitutional requirements, signaling the chamber’s belief that the complaint was properly initiated and valid under existing legal procedures.