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LIVE UPDATES: Senate sends back impeachment articles to House for review

/ Updated as of: 04:57 PM June 12, 2025

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PHOTO: Sara Duterte composite photo for impeachment

MANILA, Philippines — After hours of deliberation, the Senate — acting as the impeachment court — voted 18-5 on Tuesday to send the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte back to the House of Representatives. No senators abstained from the vote.

The motion, filed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, emphasized that returning the articles does not mean the case was being dismissed or concluded.

Voting against the motion were Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Risa Hontiveros, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, and Sherwin Gatchalian.

The 18 senators who voted in favor included Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Bong Revilla, Imee Marcos, JV Ejercito, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Robinhood Padilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Tolentino, Joel Villanueva, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Raffy Tulfo, and Francis Escudero.


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Solons: Dynamics change in impeachment, House, Senate no longer equal

June 12 , 2025 – 04:35 PM
Solons: Dynamics change in impeachment, House, Senate no longer equal
After the Senate returned the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives

Monsod: Some senators may be part of 73% who don’t know the Constitution

June 12 , 2025 – 03:10 PM
Monsod: Some senators may be part of 73% who don’t know the Constitution
One of the framers of the 1987 Constitution thinks it is possible that some senators have little to no familiarity with the charter.

Charter experts urge Senate to proceed with Duterte impeachment trial

June 12 , 2025 – 01:09 PM
Charter experts urge Senate to proceed with Duterte impeachment trial
The country’s top constitutional law group urged the Senate to proceed with Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Strong, credible voices reverberate vs ‘delay’ in Sara Duterte trial

June 12 , 2025 – 01:08 PM
Strong, credible voices reverberate vs ‘delay’ in Sara Duterte trial
The 1987 Constitution explicitly provided that when a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by one-third of the House of Representatives, the same shall constitute the articles of impeachment, “and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.”

Escudero: Only SC can tell if impeachment articles’ return is unconstitutional

June 12 , 2025 – 11:34 AM
Escudero: Only SC can tell if impeachment articles’ return is unconstitutional
Only the Supreme Court has the power to decide on the constitutionality of the senator-judges’ decision to remand the Articles of Impeachment.

Escudero to House: Respect impeachment court’s order on Duterte trial

June 12 , 2025 – 10:15 AM
Escudero to House: Respect impeachment court’s order on Duterte trial
Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday said the House of Representatives must respect the impeachment court’s orders.

‘Whimsical, despotic, arbitrary’: Prominent lawyer slams Senate return of case vs Sara Duterte

June 12 , 2025 – 09:01 AM
‘Whimsical, despotic, arbitrary’: Prominent lawyer slams Senate return of case vs Sara Duterte
The Senate formally convened as an impeachment court on June 10, only to vote hours later to send the case back to the House of Representatives.

Mindanao lawyers’ group: Senate’s move ‘sets dangerous precedent’

June 12 , 2025 – 06:26 AM
Mindanao lawyers’ group: Senate’s move ‘sets dangerous precedent’
A Mindanao lawyers’ group here condemns the Senate’s move to remand the Article of Impeachment against the VP to the House.

Religious, civil society groups slam impeach court ‘palusot’

June 12 , 2025 – 05:48 AM
Religious, civil society groups slam impeach court ‘palusot’
The Church and various civil society organizations called on Filipinos to denounce the move that remanded the impeach complain to the House.

Hontiveros on Dela Rosa-Cayetano move: ‘Turns out there was such a plan’

June 12 , 2025 – 05:32 AM
Hontiveros on Dela Rosa-Cayetano move: ‘Turns out there was such a plan’
The decision of the Senate impeachment court to send the impeachment case back to the House of Representatives reeked of conspiracy,

Palace: People see who’s ‘playing around’ with rules

June 12 , 2025 – 05:30 AM
Palace: People see who’s ‘playing around’ with rules
Malacañang warned public officials that they should adhere to legal procedure, in apparent reference to the Senate’s move to remand the case.

Remand of impeachment articles concerning, but we’ll comply – Speaker

June 11 , 2025 – 10:37 PM
Remand of impeachment articles concerning, but we’ll comply – Speaker
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has expressed concerns over the Senate’s move to return the articles of impeachment of the VP.

House formally defers accepting returned impeachment articles

June 11 , 2025 – 08:17 PM
House formally defers accepting returned impeachment articles
The House of Representatives has formally deferred acceptance of the articles of impeachment returned by the Senate, through a resolution adopted by the chamber.

Palace: Public will discern who respects, manipulates procedures

June 11 , 2025 – 06:11 PM
Palace: Public will discern who respects, manipulates procedures
The public will discern who respects legal procedures and who tries to manipulate them to derail the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Impeachment case `very much alive’ as court has taken over it – Luistro

June 11 , 2025 – 06:00 PM
Impeachment case `very much alive’ as court has taken over it – Luistro
If there is any consolation for the House of Representatives prosecutors, it is that the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte is very much alive, given that the impeachment court has acquired jurisdiction over it.

Group of lawyers to SC: Nullify impeachment articles vs Sara Duterte

June 11 , 2025 – 05:15 PM
Group of lawyers to SC: Nullify impeachment articles vs Sara Duterte
A group of lawyers has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to intervene and nullify the Articles of Impeachment against VP Duterte

Misused funds deny public food, service – ex-UP professor

June 11 , 2025 – 04:46 PM
Misused funds deny public food, service – ex-UP professor
Although impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte does not feed Filipinos, the misuse of government funds-which is among the allegations against her, denies the public food and the services it needs, a University of the Philippines (UP) professor emerita said.

House to seek clarity on Senate’s remand before receiving articles

June 11 , 2025 – 04:24 PM
House to seek clarity on Senate’s remand before receiving articles
The House of Representatives’ prosecution team will seek clarification from the Senate regarding its decision to remand the articles of impeachment.

Return of impeach case to House is Duterte bloc’s plan all along

June 11 , 2025 – 03:39 PM
Return of impeach case to House is Duterte bloc’s plan all along
Minority Sen. Risa Hontiveros believes it was the Duterte bloc’s plan all along to remand the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives.

No court jurisdiction lost in Sara Duterte impeachment case – Escudero

June 11 , 2025 – 03:37 PM
No court jurisdiction lost in Sara Duterte impeachment case – Escudero
The impeachment court  does not lose its jurisdiction over the case against VP Duterte even after it was sent back to the House

Protesters rally in numbers at Senate over Duterte trial delay

June 11 , 2025 – 03:05 PM
Protesters rally in numbers at Senate over Duterte trial delay
Protesters on Wednesday filled the streets in front of the Senate building to call out the upper chamber for once again delaying the impeachment trial.

Senators ditched duty as impartial impeachment trial judges – lawyer

June 11 , 2025 – 02:51 PM
Senators ditched duty as impartial impeachment trial judges – lawyer
Senators who voted to remand the impeachment case against VPDuterte to the House have crossed a line from being judges to de facto counsel.

Senate drops June 11 presentation of Articles of Impeachment

June 11 , 2025 – 02:37 PM
Senate drops June 11 presentation of Articles of Impeachment
The Senate has formally returned the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives.

Escudero: House has no power to defy impeachment court’s orders

June 11 , 2025 – 02:09 PM
Escudero: House has no power to defy impeachment court’s orders
The House of Representatives has no power to defy the Senate impeachment court’s orders.

Lawyer named impeachment court spokesperson

June 11 , 2025 – 02:07 PM
Lawyer named impeachment court spokesperson
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero has appointed Atty. Reginald Tongol as spokesperson of the impeachment court. 

Senate’s remand of impeachment articles seems to block democracy – Chua

June 11 , 2025 – 12:53 PM
Senate’s remand of impeachment articles seems to block democracy – Chua
Rep. Joel Chua lamented the Senate’s remand of the impeachment articles,which seemed to block the rule of law and democracy in the country.

Sara Duterte trial: Church leaders urge Congress to rise above politics

June 11 , 2025 – 12:29 PM
Sara Duterte trial: Church leaders urge Congress to rise above politics
Church leaders on Wednesday urged Congress to “rise above partisan politics” to uphold public trust in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Diokno tells Senate: Judges not allowed to make motions

June 11 , 2025 – 11:54 AM
Diokno tells Senate: Judges not allowed to make motions
Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno reminded the Senate that judges can’t make motions in court, after a senator-judge moved to remand Duterte’s impeachment articles.

Sara Duterte’s office receives impeachment court summons

June 11 , 2025 – 11:35 AM
Sara Duterte’s office receives impeachment court summons
Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team on Wednesday received the writ of summons issued by the Senate Impeachment Court in connection with her trial.

Escudero orders writ of summons served to VP Sara Duterte

June 11 , 2025 – 11:05 AM
Escudero orders writ of summons served to VP Sara Duterte
Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero has directed the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to deliver the writ of summons to Vice President Sara Duterte.

The House panel that will prosecute Sara Duterte: A brief glance

June 11 , 2025 – 10:45 AM
The House panel that will prosecute Sara Duterte: A brief glance
To say that a lot can happen in a week’s time is an understatement, especially in relation to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Why 5 senator-judges voted against returning Duterte case to House

June 11 , 2025 – 10:43 AM
Why 5 senator-judges voted against returning Duterte case to House
Only five senator-judges opposed the Senate impeachment court’s decision to return the Articles of Impeachment against VP Sara Duterte to the House.

House panel not yet done with Sara Duterte, DepEd, OVP execs

June 11 , 2025 – 05:46 AM
House panel not yet done with Sara Duterte, DepEd, OVP execs
The House committee on good government and accountability has recommended the filing of criminal charges against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Marcos sees Sara Duterte impeachment trial crossing into next Congress

June 11 , 2025 – 05:34 AM
Marcos sees Sara Duterte impeachment trial crossing into next Congress
As far as President Marcos is concerned, there should be no “controversy” that the impeachment trial would cross over into the 20th Congress.

Sara Duterte takes ‘personal trip’ on crucial day of impeachment case

June 11 , 2025 – 05:32 AM
Sara Duterte takes ‘personal trip’ on crucial day of impeachment case
Vice President Sara Duterte flew to Malaysia on a “personal trip” on Tuesday, hours before the Senate convened into an impeachment court.

Sara Duterte impeachment court opens, but raps ‘remanded’ to House

June 11 , 2025 – 05:30 AM
Sara Duterte impeachment court opens, but raps ‘remanded’ to House
Right after taking their oaths as senator-judges, majority of them voted to approve a motion that will effectively stall the impeach trial.

Senators don impeachment robes

June 11 , 2025 – 02:12 AM
Senators don impeachment robes
The Senate plenary bled oxford crimson on Tuesday when it convened as a court for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Impeachment backers: Senate’s moves won’t keep people silent

June 11 , 2025 – 01:56 AM
Impeachment backers: Senate’s moves won’t keep people silent
Incoming ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said that the Senate had the chance to let the people’s voices be heard.

VP Sara Duterte ordered to answer impeachment case against her

June 10 , 2025 – 10:06 PM
VP Sara Duterte ordered to answer impeachment case against her
The Senate impeachment court has ordered Vice President Sara Duterte to answer the impeachment case filed against her.

Bayan tells ‘spineless’ Senate: We’ll protest outside tomorrow

June 10 , 2025 – 09:50 PM
Bayan tells ‘spineless’ Senate: We’ll protest outside tomorrow
Progressive groups are gearing up for protest movements outside the Senate on Wednesday.

Impeachment court sends Sara Duterte case back to House

June 10 , 2025 – 09:00 PM
Impeachment court sends Sara Duterte case back to House
The Senate voted 18-5 with no abstentions to return the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House.

House recommends perjury, corruption charges vs Sara Duterte

June 10 , 2025 – 07:23 PM
House recommends perjury, corruption charges vs Sara Duterte
The House has adopted a panel report recommending the filing of criminal charges against Vice President Sara Duterte.

INQToday: Senate convenes as impeachment court after move to dismiss case vs Duterte

June 10 , 2025 – 07:00 PM
INQToday: Senate convenes as impeachment court after move to dismiss case vs Duterte
The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte progresses now that the 22 senators of the 19th Congress have officially taken their oath as senator-judges.

Sara Duterte on trial: 22 senators take oath as senator-judges

June 10 , 2025 – 06:24 PM
Sara Duterte on trial: 22 senators take oath as senator-judges
22 senators of the 19th Congress have officially taken their oath as senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Dela Rosa’s dismissal move prompts convening of Senate impeachment court

June 10 , 2025 – 06:23 PM
Dela Rosa’s dismissal move prompts convening of Senate impeachment court
The Senate convened as an impeachment court,  prompted by a motion to dismiss the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

LOOK: Protesters urge Senate to start Duterte impeachment trial

June 10 , 2025 – 05:34 PM
LOOK: Protesters urge Senate to start Duterte impeachment trial
Protesters gathered in front of the Senate to pressure its leadership to immediately convene the impeachment court against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Dela Rosa moves for dismissal of impeachment case vs Sara Duterte

June 10 , 2025 – 05:26 PM
Dela Rosa moves for dismissal of impeachment case vs Sara Duterte
Sen. Ronald  “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday moved for the dismissal of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

No hits? House was chided over impeachment rap delay – Abante

June 10 , 2025 – 02:39 PM
No hits? House was chided over impeachment rap delay – Abante
The House of Representatives was criticized when it failed to immediately transmit the impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte.

PH’s oldest trade group: Start Sara Duterte impeachment trial

June 10 , 2025 – 02:37 PM
PH’s oldest trade group: Start Sara Duterte impeachment trial
The country’s oldest business group called on the Senate to immediately commence the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Marcos respects opinions on Sara Duterte impeachment trial – Palace

June 10 , 2025 – 02:34 PM
Marcos respects opinions on Sara Duterte impeachment trial – Palace
Pres. Marcos Jr. respects the opinions of various groups regarding the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, says Castro

Impeachment took time, House had to make evidence foolproof – Abante

June 10 , 2025 – 01:39 PM
Impeachment took time, House had to make evidence foolproof – Abante
The House wanted to submit a foolproof petition to the Senate, that is why it took sometime to file the complaint, says the spokesperson.

Pimentel-led panel to decide fate of reso halting Sara Duterte trial

June 10 , 2025 – 01:24 PM
Pimentel-led panel to decide fate of reso halting Sara Duterte trial
The fate of the resolution seeking to terminate the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte lies in the hands of the Senate’s justice panel.

Impeachment court constituted, but not yet convened – Escudero

June 10 , 2025 – 01:35 PM
Impeachment court constituted, but not yet convened – Escudero
The Senate as an impeachment court has been constituted but not yet convened for the trial  of Vice President Sara Duterte

Marcos ‘watching’ Escudero on Duterte trial transition to next Congress

June 10 , 2025 – 10:11 AM
Marcos ‘watching’ Escudero on Duterte trial transition to next Congress
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday reiterated that he is leaving the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate.

CBCP leader: Delaying Duterte impeachment trial betrays Constitution

June 10 , 2025 – 09:34 AM
CBCP leader: Delaying Duterte impeachment trial betrays Constitution
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David said on Tuesday that delaying the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte would be a betrayal of the 1987 Constitution.

After debates, Escudero takes oath to lead Sara Duterte trial

June 10 , 2025 – 05:55 AM
After debates, Escudero takes oath to lead Sara Duterte trial
Administration senators on Monday night torpedoed the attempt of two opposition senators to convene themselves into an impeachment court.

Tolentino files 19-day calendar to finish Sara Duterte impeachment trial

June 10 , 2025 – 01:20 AM
Tolentino files 19-day calendar to finish Sara Duterte impeachment trial
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino has formally filed a resolution adopting his proposed calendar for an expedited impeachment trial.

Escudero takes oath as presiding officer of Sara Duterte trial

June 9 , 2025 – 09:12 PM
Escudero takes oath as presiding officer of Sara Duterte trial
Senate President Francis Escudero took his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial.

Robin Padilla files resolution seeking to terminate Sara Duterte trial

June 9 , 2025 – 06:28 PM
Robin Padilla files resolution seeking to terminate Sara Duterte trial
Padilla sought the termination of the impeachment proceedings through Senate Resolution No. 1371  he filed at 5:42 p.m. on  Monday.

Robin Padilla drafts own reso junking Duterte impeachment case

June 9 , 2025 – 03:40 PM
Robin Padilla drafts own reso junking Duterte impeachment case
Sen. Robin Padilla confirmed on Monday that he drafted a resolution seeking the dismissal of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Pimentel moves for convening of Senate impeachment court

June 9 , 2025 – 04:53 PM
Pimentel moves for convening of Senate impeachment court
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has asked the Senate to convene as an impeachment court to try the case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Senators call for a caucus regarding Duterte impeachment trial

June 9 , 2025 – 03:06 PM
Senators call for a caucus regarding Duterte impeachment trial
Amid uncertainties in the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, several senators have called on to hold an all-member caucus.

Archbishop Soc Villegas says delaying Sara Duterte trial `is grave sin’

June 9 , 2025 – 02:39 PM
Archbishop Soc Villegas says delaying Sara Duterte trial `is grave sin’
Soc Villegas: “Not to pursue truth when you have the capacity to know it FORTHWITH is a grave sin of omission. It is morally unacceptable,”

Escudero: Senate to decide if Sara Duterte trial ends in 19th Congress

June 9 , 2025 – 01:09 PM
Escudero: Senate to decide if Sara Duterte trial ends in 19th Congress
Sen. Francis Escudero said the impeachment court will decide if the trial against VP Sara Duterte can conclude before the 19th Congress adjourns.

De Lima says 19-day impeachment trial sked ‘recipe for railroading’

June 9 , 2025 – 01:01 PM
De Lima says 19-day impeachment trial sked ‘recipe for railroading’
De Lima: Timeline proposed by Sen. Tolentino is actually a crazy proposal because after sitting on it for four months, now they’re cramming…

Impeachment process has ‘constitutional infirmities’ – Sara Duterte team

June 9 , 2025 – 12:19 PM
Impeachment process has ‘constitutional infirmities’ – Sara Duterte team
The impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte suffers from “serious constitutional infirmities,” says her legal team.

Prosecutor: Sara Duterte impeachment raps can’t be reduced to just 2

June 9 , 2025 – 12:05 PM
Prosecutor: Sara Duterte impeachment raps can’t be reduced to just 2
Merging the impeachment raps against Vice President Sara Duterte can’t be merged into just two articles, says a prosecution team member.

Senate minority to initiate Sara Duterte impeachment trial this Monday

June 9 , 2025 – 11:36 AM
Senate minority to initiate Sara Duterte impeachment trial this Monday
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday bared the Senate minority’s plan to initiate the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Solons split on Tolentino bid for 19-day Sara Duterte impeachment trial

June 9 , 2025 – 11:15 AM
Solons split on Tolentino bid for 19-day Sara Duterte impeachment trial
House members have different opinions on Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino’s bid to hold VP Duterte’s impeachment trial in 19 days.

Escudero to those rushing Sara Duterte trial: ‘I won’t listen to them’

June 9 , 2025 – 11:06 AM
Escudero to those rushing Sara Duterte trial: ‘I won’t listen to them’
Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday rejected calls to “rush” start the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

LOOK: Protesters urge Senate to proceed with Duterte impeachment trial

June 9 , 2025 – 10:36 AM
LOOK: Protesters urge Senate to proceed with Duterte impeachment trial
Protesters on Monday urged the Senate to fulfill its mandate of trying the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Escudero: No reso to dismiss Duterte impeachment trial submitted yet

June 9 , 2025 – 10:30 AM
Escudero: No reso to dismiss Duterte impeachment trial submitted yet
No resolution seeking to dismiss the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte has reached the desk of Senate President Francis Escudero.

Charter framer urges Senate: Follow process

June 9 , 2025 – 05:55 AM
Charter framer urges Senate: Follow process
All the Senate leadership has to do is to follow the process. This was what one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution said over the weekend.

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