Philippine Senate votes to return impeachment complaints against VP Duterte to lower house

The Philippine Senate sitting as an impeachment court voted on Tuesday to return an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives for clarification.

Voting 18 against five, the Senate returned the articles of impeachment to the lower house to clarify its constitutionality just a few hours after convening a trial.

Duterte, the eldest daughter of former President Rodrigo, was impeached by the House of Representatives on Feb. 5 this year.

According to the Philippine Constitution, the Senate is required to try the impeachment case submitted by the House of Representatives. The impeachment will take effect only if it is approved by a two-thirds majority of the 24 senators, or 16 votes in favor.

Philippine Senate votes to return impeachment complaints against VP Duterte to lower house

Philippine Senate votes to return impeachment complaints against VP Duterte to lower house

Philippine Senate votes to return impeachment complaints against VP Duterte to lower house

Philippine Senate votes to return impeachment complaints against VP Duterte to lower house

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil issued a statement on Saturday, saying that the security alert released by the U.S. Department of State regarding Venezuela is based on false claims that do not exist and is intended to create a perception of risk that is not real.

According to the statement posted on Gil's official X account, Venezuela is currently in a state of absolute calm, peace and stability.

All residential areas, transportation routes, checkpoints and security facilities in the country are functioning normally, and all armed forces nationwide are under the government's control.

The statement came after the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs on Saturday warned that as international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela "should leave the country immediately."

Venezuela FM condemns U.S. travel alert as groundless