The House of Representatives on Monday night, May 11 formally ordered the transmittal to the Senate of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte after its historic adoption in plenary session.

The move came a few hours after the House voted 257-25-9 (yes-no-abstain) to impeach Duterte for the second time in two years, as the lawmakers adopted the four articles contained in Committee Report (CR) No. 261.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor moved for the formal endorsement of the impeachment complaint and all accompanying records to the Senate.

“Mr. Speaker, I move to endorse to the Senate the resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment, together with all the annexes pursuant to the rules of House on Impeachment Proceedings,” Defensor said on the plenary floor.

“Further, I move that the Secretary General be directed to prepare and transmit the same to the Senate for appropriate action in accordance with the Constitution and the rules of the House,” he added.

Senior Deputy Speaker South Cotabato 2nd district Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez, who presided over the session, approved the motion after hearing no objection from the chamber.

Defensor later moved to furnish copies of the committee report, articles of impeachment, and annexes to Duterte, the complainants, and the legal counsels of the parties once the documents were transmitted to the Senate.

The formal endorsement marked the final action of the House in this year's impeachment proceedings against Duterte before the case moves to the Senate. It is now up to the upper chamber to convene as an impeachment court and hold trial against the respondent forthwith.

Vice President Duterte's conviction through impeachment trial is being sought over her offices' alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds; untruthful declarations in the filing of her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth; unexplained wealth; and death threats to President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.

Meanwhile, Assistant Majority Leader Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Tuesday, May 12 echoed the statement issued by prominent law deans and professors wherein they warned against efforts to delay or block Duterte’s trial in the Senate.

“The statement of our respected law deans, professors and legal scholars sends a strong and important message that impeachment is a constitutional process that must be respected and not delayed or undermined for political convenience,” Adiong said.

“Their position affirms what the House has consistently maintained, that once the constitutional threshold is met, the Senate has the duty to proceed with the impeachment trial forthwith,” he added.

Adiong said the support from members of the legal academe underscored growing concern over attempts to delay or derail the impeachment proceedings despite the constitutional mandate.

“This is no longer just a political discussion. This is about fidelity to the Constitution, accountability in public office, and preserving public trust in our institutions,” said the Mindanaonon.

The law professors and deans earlier issued a statement lauding House members who voted to impeach Duterte and reminding senators that refusing to convene as an impeachment court is “not a constitutional option” under Article XI of the Constitution.

The statement also warned that refusal by public officials to perform a constitutional duty may constitute dereliction of duty, while giving undue advantage to a person not entitled to it could amount to a criminal offense under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Most of the signatories came from the San Beda University Graduate School of Law, including retired Supreme Court Justice Adolfo Azcuna, former environment undersecretary Antonio La Viña, dean Fr. Ranhilio Callangan Aquino, Mons. Gary Formoso, Fr. Jaime Achacoso, Dr. George Carmona, Dr. Juan Ruffo Chong, Dr. Manuel Solis, Linda Malenab-Hornilla, Melanie Pimentel, Fr. Jerome Rosalinda, and Fr. Lhem Naval.

The statement was also signed by Dean Ada Maria Abad of the Adamson University College of Law, Dean Ma. Soledad Margarita Deriquito-Mawis and Prof. Carlo Cruz of the Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Law, Dean Marivic Trabajo-Daray of Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City, Prof. Roger Terence Camua of the University of Asia and the Pacific College of Law, and Dean Rabindranath Polito of the Misamis University College of Law.