The Senate should issue a writ of summons to impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, requiring her to answer the impeachment complaint filed against her by the House of Representatives last Feb. 5, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said Tuesday.
Libanan told a news conference that the requirement is contained in the Senate rules on impeachment trials.
Under such rules, he said the Senate should ask the respondent to file an answer within 10 days from its receipt of the impeachment complaint.
Based on the impeachment timeline earlier released by Senate President Francis Escudero, Vice President Duterte would be required to answer the complaint on June 4.
Trial would start on July 30, two days after the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and after convening the incoming 20th Congress.
Libanan said the June 4 plan to require the Vice President to answer the impeachment petition is not contained in the Senate impeachment rules.
“What I see on June 4, when they started, it was not in their rules of procedure. Because if they file immediately, in their impeachment rules they will issue summons to the one who is being sought to be impeached in a period of 10 days from receipt of the articles of impeachment,” he said.
“June 4 is not 10 days, it is very far away. So, with this motion, hopefully they (Senate) can do it, they can make our vice president answer within 10 days. Otherwise, they have to amend their rules on impeachment procedure,” he added.
Aside from invoking its own impeachment rules, Libanan said the Senate can act on the House prosecution’s motion because the chamber is working even while Congress is on recess.
Libanan said members of the House prosecution team signed their motion for entry of appearance and motion to issue summons to VP Duterte last March 14. He was referring to the inquiry on the March 11 arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
He reiterated the importance of starting the trial as soon as possible.