House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday announced his deep concern over the Senate's decision to remand the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte back to the House after it was given four months ago in the Senate.

"The decision of the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, to return the articles of impeachment is deeply concerning. These articles were transmitted by this chamber in accordance with the constitution, and with the overwhelming support of 215 members who answered the people’s call for accountability," Romualdez said during his speech in the closing of the 19th Congress in the House of Representatives Wednesday night.

Vice President Sara Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives over alleged betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, among other charges on February 5, with the impeachment case transmitted to the Senate on the same day.

The Senate convened as an impeachment court on Tuesday, with Senator Ronald Dela Rosa motioning for the impeachment trial to be dismissed, claiming that the House deliberately sat on the first three impeachment complaints against Duterte in December 2024 because approving a fourth complaint in February, violating the constitutional one-year ban rule on impeachment proceedings.

The Senate voted 18-5 to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano's motion to remand the impeachment case back to the House of Representatives, asking the House to certify its non-violation of the Constitution and that the House of the 20th Congress communicate that it still wants to pursue the impeachment trial.

“The House of Representatives acted not out of haste, but with deliberate care. We followed the law. We honored our mandate. And above all, we stood for what the Filipino people deserve ? a government that answers to its citizens,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez vowed to comply with the requirements set by the Senate in their remanding of the impeachment articles, and 'not to abandon our cause, but to ensure the process continues.'

The House approved a resolution certifying that Duterte's impeachment did not violate the Constitution and approved a motion deferring the acceptance of the remanded articles of impeachment, asking the Senate to provide clarification on its order prior to the Congress adjourning sine die. Velle White/DMS