Articles of impeachment against Sara Duterte formally transmitted to Senate

The Senate formally received the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday evening, marking a major development in the impeachment proceedings against the country’s second-highest official.

Senate Secretary Mark Llandro “Dong” L. Mendoza and Deputy Secretary for Legislation Atty. Marivic Laurel Garcia received the impeachment documents from House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil at the Senate at around 7:22 p.m.

The transmittal included sealed boxes containing House Committee Report No. 261 on House Resolution No. 989, titled “Resolution Setting Forth the Articles of Impeachment Against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.”

Also included in the submission were annexes and USB devices containing digital copies of the documents related to the impeachment proceedings.

Photos released by the Senate showed officials receiving several sealed containers believed to contain records and evidence supporting the impeachment complaint endorsed by the House of Representatives.

The formal turnover came amid heightened political tension following recent leadership changes in the Senate and ongoing debates over the possible impeachment trial of Duterte.

Under the Constitution, the Senate will serve as an impeachment court once impeachment proceedings formally move forward. Senators will act as judges in determining whether the Vice President should be convicted or acquitted of the charges stated in the Articles of Impeachment.

The Senate has yet to announce the schedule for the reading of the Articles of Impeachment and the convening of the impeachment court.