Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday questioned the legitimacy of the impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, calling for its dismissal due to what he described as constitutional defects.
“I respectfully move that, in view of its Constitutional infirmities and questions on the jurisdiction and authority of the 20th Congress, the verified impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte be dismissed,” he said before Senator Cristopher Lawrence Go attempted to second the motion.
In a privilege speech before the Senate, Dela Rosa said the House of Representatives may believe they have built a strong case, but the legal and jurisdictional basis of the complaint remains questionable.
The Duterte-allied senator warned that actions being allowed within the halls of government would never be tolerated in ordinary households, especially if it came at the cost of institutional stability.
He emphasized that proceeding with a case lacking firm constitutional basis could set a dangerous precedent.
Dela Rosa then yielded the floor to Go, another Duterte ally.
Go expressed his full support for Dela Rosa’s position during the session.
“I agree with the speech of Senator Bato dela Rosa,” said Go before Senate President Francis Escudero suspended the plenary session.