Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� Dela Rosa 鈥擣ile photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
Updated @ 6:07 p.m., June 4, 2025
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Sen. Bato dela Rosa confirmed on Wednesday that the draft resolution seeking the 鈥渄e facto dismissal鈥� of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte came from his office.
The measure, which is being circulated now among senators, was initiated by Dela Rosa himself.
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鈥淭hat came from my office,鈥� he admitted to reporters, speaking in Filipino
Asked why he initiated such an act, dela Rosa urged the public to just read his resolution, which 鈥渄irectly states what he feels.鈥�
Backers
The resolution states that the postponement of the reading of the articles of impeachment against Duterte from June 2 to June 11 leaves the current Congress 鈥渨ith no sufficient time to fully deliberate and resolve鈥� the articles 鈥渁s the matter cannot cross over to the incoming 20th Congress which will convene on the fourth Monday of July 2025.鈥�
With this, the document states that the articles of impeachment against Duterte 鈥渕ust necessarily be deemed de facto dismissed, by virtue of the inability of the Senate to properly consider the same because of the timing of the transmittal thereof by the House of Representatives.鈥�
According to dela Rosa, he consulted a few of his colleagues regarding the matter. In fact, he confessed that his resolution had already attracted a number of backers.
鈥淚 have a number, but I cannot say how many. I have a number, zero to 24,鈥� he said.
Other drafts
Asked if he鈥檚 going to formally file the draft measure, Dela Rosa said he would evaluate the matter first, considering that some of his colleagues might also have prepared resolutions related to his measure.
鈥淢aybe the others have their own draft. So those of our colleagues who have a draft, maybe we can incorporate there the good provisions so we can come out with a better final version that will be acceptable to everyone, one that can get the support of the majority,鈥� he said.
But how many more resolutions are being circulated among senators?
Dela Rosa said he was able to see three different drafts, but he emphasized that his draft was the first among them.
The former top cop said he was still unsure when he would formally file the measure, but he could do it next week.
Dela Rosa, a known Duterte ally, said Vice President Sara Duterte was not aware that he was initiating such a resolution. /atm