The House prosecution panel will submit a mere manifestation rather than a formal reply to Vice President Sara Duterte’s response to the articles of impeachment, with Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua explaining that the defense’s pleading failed to raise any issues requiring a counter-argument.
Chua, a member of the House prosecution team, expressed that the answer filed by Duterte’s legal counsel held little substance or value.
“Parang sinasabi lang namin na ito walang kwenta. Hindi na ito kailangang punto por punto,” Chua said in a television interview.
The lawmaker clarified that the Vice President’s defense concentrated heavily on procedural, jurisdictional, and constitutional matters that are currently pending before the Supreme Court, rather than directly tackling the core allegations laid out in the impeachment complaint.
“Wala naman jurisdiction ang Senado para ito ay tugunan. Otherwise, pangungunahan nila yung Korte Suprema,” he said.
Chua emphasized that the Senate, convening as an impeachment court, lacks the authority to review the validity of the House proceedings that culminated in the impeachment.
He contended that permitting Duterte’s defense team to contest the House’s internal processes before the Senate would inappropriately turn the impeachment body into an appellate court.
He further noted that the 1987 Constitution explicitly commands the Senate to move forward with the trial of an impeached official immediately.
“Ibig sabihin, trial. Hindi po ito appellate court… It’s either acquit or convict, hindi para mag-decision sa motion to dismiss,” he stated.
The House prosecutor insisted that the impeachment court’s sole constitutional mandate is to evaluate the evidence from both parties and decide whether to acquit or convict the Vice President based strictly on the merits of the allegations.