‘Not intentional’: House explains why it didn’t receive Sara camp’s filing of entry

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Abante says a messenger on Monday tried to submit to the House a document — which turned out to be the entry of appearance by Duterte's lawyers, but it 'was not accepted' due to 'vagueness and anonymity'

MANILA, Philippines – House officials insisted on Thursday, June 19, that the lower chamber did not intentionally refuse to accept the entry of appearance filed by Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyers for her impeachment trial.

Senate impeachment court spokesperson Regie Tongol previously said the copy furnished to the House had a note “tender copy refuse to receive,” and floated the possibility of such a move further delaying impeachment proceedings.

House spokesperson Princess Abante clarified that, last Monday, June 16, a messenger arrived at the gate of the House and tried to submit a document. The document, however, was not accepted due to its vagueness and anonymity.

“It is not clear where it came from and what kind of document it was. There was no cover letter, no formal explanation. That’s why it wasn’t accepted—not because it was rejected, but because the purpose and proper processing of the letter must be clarified first,” Abante said in Filipino.

She further explained that the House only wanted a proper distinction of the letter, and there was not any bad intention behind it.

“If it was the entry of appearance, they could have said it immediately—for it to be processed properly,” she added.

The House spokesperson also reiterated that the entry of appearance is not necessary for the impeachment trial to proceed, and since the lower chamber already sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate, the House is no longer to blame for any trial delays.

In a separate interview, prosecution spokesman Antonio Bucoy insisted that what the House did should not be a reason for the delay of the trial.

“It was a case of inadvertence, the refusal wasn’t intentional. It wasn’t intentional. That’s why, as I said before, no harm, no foul,” prosecution spokesman Antonio Bucoy said in a Rappler Talk interview on Thursday.

“This will not cause a delay. This is only an entry of appearance. It’s simply informing the court and the prosecution that these are my lawyers. A tender of service was made. Tender of service means that even if the receipt is not acknowledged, I will leave you a copy — you have been informed,” he added.

Abante also appealed to Tongol not to confuse the public and not use a clerical detail to blame the House.

In a press conference on Wednesday, June 18, Tongol said “maybe” it was a “matter of strategy” why the House refused to receive the entry of appearance.

“There isn’t any motion there, there is not much issue or conflict both sides had to think about when they filed a notice of appearance. So, it’s a wonder why they won’t receive it,” Tongol added.

After the Senate convened as an impeachment court on June 10, the upper chamber remanded the impeachment articles to the lower chamber.

The Senate wants the House to confirm that Duterte’s impeachment proceedings did not violate the Constitution, and that the House of the 20th Congress is still willing to continue the impeachment trial.

The House subsequently passed a resolution certifying that the impeachment proceedings were constitutional.

The lower chamber also said it plans to file a pleading with the court seeking clarification about the conditions, as the second requirement cannot be complied with yet because 20th Congress is still not in office. – LA Agustin and Dwight de Leon/Rappler.com

LA Agustin is a journalism and a pre-law student from Bulacan State University. She is currently an intern for Rappler.