SENATOR Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa launched a direct challenge to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, arguing the House of Representatives circumvented the Constitution in its handling of previous impeachment complaints.
In a strongly worded privilege speech, Dela Rosa moved for the dismissal of the current impeachment case, alleging intentional inaction on three prior complaints filed in December 2024.
Dela Rosa’s central argument centers on the timing of the fourth impeachment complaint, which reached the Senate on February 5th.
He likened the situation to a vehicle taking an alternate route, stating, “If the first three impeachment complaints passed through EDSA, it appears that the House of Representatives chose the Skyway as the path of the fourth one en route to the Senate.”
This “Skyway” metaphor, he explained, represents the House’s alleged circumvention of the Constitution’s one-year ban on impeachment proceedings against the same official (Article XI, Section 3, paragraph 5). By intentionally delaying action on the initial complaints, Dela Rosa contends, the House effectively sidestepped this crucial constitutional safeguard.
The senator’s motion to dismiss is expected to be a focal point in the ongoing impeachment trial.
Its success hinges on the Senate’s interpretation of the House’s actions and the application of constitutional provisions regarding impeachment.
Legal experts anticipate vigorous debate on the matter, with the outcome potentially setting a significant precedent for future impeachment proceedings. The Vice President’s legal team has yet to respond publicly to Senator Dela Rosa’s accusations.
The trial’s trajectory now depends heavily on the Senate’s decision regarding this motion.Share
