The Senate formally convened as an impeachment court on Monday for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with 23 senators taking their oath as judges and Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano presiding over the proceedings.
The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday confirmed that the Department of Justice has recommended the filing of a plunder case against Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada in connection with the controversy involving government flood control projects.
The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, voted Monday to issue a writ of summons to Vice President Sara Duterte, formally directing her to answer the allegations contained in the articles of impeachment filed against her.
The Office of the Solicitor General has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss a series of motions filed by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, accusing him of using legal remedies to evade an alleged international arrest warrant and describing him as a “fugitive from justice.”
The Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) on Saturday denied claims circulating online that there was no closed-circuit television footage covering the second floor of the Senate building during Wednesday’s shooting incident.
Alan Peter Cayetano formally wrote to senators informing them that the upper chamber will convene as an impeachment court on Monday, May 18, at 3 p.m. to hear the complaints against Sara Duterte.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Thursday that military personnel assigned to secure the Senate compound were not involved in the gunfire incident inside the Senate complex the previous night.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa left the Senate premises around 2:30 a.m. Thursday after senators placed him under protective custody earlier this week following an attempt by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents to arrest him based on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.
The Supreme Court of the Philippines did not issue a temporary restraining order but directed executive agencies to submit comments within 72 hours on a motion filed by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa questioning the validity of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Ronald dela Rosa will not be arrested “for now” following a security incident at the Senate of the Philippines on Wednesday night, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said, citing assurances from government officials and a directive from the Supreme Court.