MANILA, Philippines — The Senate junked Senate Minority Leader Tito Sotto's motion to table Sen. Rodante Marcoleta's motion to dismiss the impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.
During the Senate's plenary session on Wednesday, August 6, Sotto and Marcoleta clashed in a debate on whether the body should wait for the high court to resolve the motion for reconsideration filed by the House to reverse the decision.
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The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Duterte's petition to nullify her impeachment, which they declared as unconstitutional on grounds it violated the one-year bar rule and failed to provide the vice president a chance to be heard before the articles were transmitted to the Senate.
After hours of impasse, Senate President Chiz Escudero said the Senate would vote on Sotto’s motion to table Marcoleta’s motion. If it is voted down, Marcoleta’s motion will be taken up.
As a result, the Senate voted 5-19 against Sotto's motion.
RELATED: Senators clash over motion to dismiss Sara Duterte's impeach trial
Earlier, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano advised Marcoleta to replace “dismiss” with “archive” in his motion, saying the Senate only has two choices: whether to follow the Supreme Court’s ruling or not.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva then proposed the amendment to Marcoleta’s motion, stating that “in adherence” to the Supreme Court’s ruling — which held that the Senate did not acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment due to its unconstitutionality — the articles should be archived.
Marcoleta accepted the amended motion, which Villanueva then formally moved. The Senate has proceeded to nominal voting, with senators now explaining their votes if they wish.
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