Philippine prosecutors push for Sara Duterte’s conviction, political ban
Duterte was impeached by the House in February on allegations that include misusing public funds and plotting to assassinate the president
On Friday, in response to Duterte’s earlier request for the Senate, acting as the impeachment court, to throw out her case, they dismissed the argument that the case was prohibited. “The plain language of the constitutional text ‘trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed’ leaves no room for interpretation and forecloses the filing of a motion to dismiss before the honourable impeachment court,” prosecutors said.
The prosecutors’ action tosses the case back to the Senate, which earlier this month returned the impeachment articles to the House, asking the latter to certify that the complaint did not violate the constitution.
The volatile political situation surrounding Duterte’s impeachment case poses a risk for the Southeast Asian economy, which on Thursday cut its economic growth target this year amid heightened global uncertainties.