Atty. Michael Poa, spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal team, said the Senate of the Philippines is the proper venue to address the impeachment complaints filed against her.
“Kung ito po aakyat sa Senado, sa pananaw namin, ‘yun na po ‘yung proper forum,” Poa said in a radio interview.
He added that the defense had already submitted a formal objection to the House Committee on Justice ahead of its scheduled hearing.
“Inilahad po namin ang aming objection dito sa proceedings na ginaganap dahil sa aming pananaw, again with due respect to our lawmakers dahil ito naman ay posisyon ng defense team… pumupunta na po tayo sa conduct of a trial,” he noted.
Poa argued that the committee’s actions resemble a “mini-trial,” which, he said, exceeds the constitutional authority of the House.
“‘Yung mini trial po, sa amin, malinaw naman po sa Saligang Batas natin na pagdating sa initiation of impeachment proceedings, ‘yan po ay kapangyarihan ng House of Representatives. Pero pagdating po sa trial or pagta-try ng mga impeachment cases, ‘yan po ay sa Senado na,” he added.
The statement reinforces the defense’s position that while the House can initiate impeachment proceedings, the actual trial must be conducted in the Senate.