SC relief among options to start VP Sara Duterte's trial —House prosecutor

The House lead prosecutor on Thursday said he respects Senate President Francis Escudero’s position that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte cannot proceed while Congress is not in session.

However, the prosecution said it remains open to pursuing other legal remedies, including going to the Supreme Court.

“We respect the decision of the Senate President as presiding officer of a co-equal chamber. But in the interest of transparency and due process, we will await his formal written communication to the House panel so we can weigh our legal remedies, including the possibility of filing a motion for reconsideration or elevating the issue to the Supreme Court for constitutional clarification," lead prosecutor Rep. Marcelino Libanan said in a statement.

"This is a historic test of our institutions and of our commitment to the rule of law. We are determined to see this through—not out of political motivation, but out of our solemn constitutional duty," he added.

Escudero earlier slammed the door on the House’s motion for the Senate to order the Vice President to answer the impeachment charges, saying such a move cannot be done while the House is not in session. 

Libanan, however, maintained that the House's motion for a writ of summons was a necessary procedural move and not an act of defiance.

“It was an effort to break the political and procedural impasse that has stalled the impeachment process. We filed the motion in good faith," he said.

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“The issuance of a writ of summons is among the first preparatory steps in any impeachment trial. [And] there is no requirement that the Senate be in legislative session before it can convene as an impeachment court. The rules are clear: senators simply need to take their oath as judges, and the process can begin,” he added.

The House of Representatives impeached the Vice President last February 5, accusing her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption and other high crimes.

Sara Duterte has filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition with urgent application of temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction before the Supreme Court, saying her impeachment was a mere whim on the part of the House rather than following due process and as such, is illegal. —LDF, GMA Integrated News