The Senate's order to the House of Representatives to clarify whether or not it will pursue Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment complaint in the upcoming 20th Congress is an admission from the upper chamber that the case can cross over to the next Congress.
Thus, opined House impeachment prosecutors Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro and Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores in a press conference Wednesday, June 11.
"That's the way I see it, and that's one of the several things that I wish to welcome," Luistro said when asked if this particular question from the Senate was an admission that the complaint could cross over.
"Yun pong kautusan nila na addressed sa 20th Congress (The order that they addressed to the 20th Congress), indeed is an admission already that we can continue the impeachment trial [in the] 20th Congress," she said.
Flores appeared to agree, even as he chided the Senate for being
"[Senate President Francis] Chiz [Escudero] has been saying that they cannot bind the 20th Congress Senate, yet, in their orders, they're making us comment for the 20th Congress," he said.
"So back to them, di ba (right)? Sila na ang nagsabi nun, tapos sila din ang naglagay sa order nila (They were the ones who said it can't happen, yet they're the ones who included it in their order)," noted Flores.
The question on whether or not Duterte's impeachment complaint can continue in the 20th Congress despite being lodged in the 19th Congress has been a major talking point in the impeachment proceedings.
The House of Representatives submitted the verified and duly-endorsed impeachment complaint--along with seven articles of impeachment--against the lady official way back on Feb. 5.
However, the Senate convened as an impeachment court only on Tuesday, June 10--over four months after it received the complaint.
Wednesday was the final session day of the 19th Congress. The 20th Congress will start in July.