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'Throw the ball back to the Senate,' says Diokno as impeachment trial hangs in the balance

Philippines | National

'Throw the ball back to the Senate,' says Diokno as impeachment trial hangs in the balance

By Ellson Quismorio

At A Glance

Congressman-elect Chel Diokno of Akbayan Party-list has a simple counter to the Senate's decision to return the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno (Facebook)

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno (Facebook)

Congressman-elect Chel Diokno of Akbayan Party-list has a simple counter to the Senate’s decision to return the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives.

According to Diokno, it's the senators that Filipinos must have their eyes on.

"I think the ball should be thrown back to the Senate," the lawyer and incoming House member said in a chance interview Wednesday, June 11.

"We should call on the Senate to conduct the trial as the Constitution commands," underscored Diokno.

Lawyers and constitutionalists have been scratching their heads over the Senate's sending of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Duterte back to the House.

The motion, which benefitted the impeached lady official, was made by senator-judges who were supposed to be impartial to the matter.

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa originally made a motion to dismiss the impeachment complaint outright without a proper trial. It was then amended by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano so as to simply return the complaint to the House. This, despite neither dimissing nor terminating the case.

As an offshoot of this move, the House prosecution team's scheduled appearance at the Senate impeachment trial Wednesday would no longer push through. The team is holding a meeting as of this posting.

The 19th Congress is scheduled to adjourn sine die after Wednesday's plenary session.

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