MANILA — The Senate does not want to comment on the petition filed by Vice President Sara Duterte asking the High Court to halt her impeachment trial, saying it has nothing to comment on.

The Senate said this in a Manifestation Ad Cautelam — Latin for “with caution” —that it filed in compliance with the Supreme Court's directive for it to comment on the petition.

"A reading of the body of the above-captioned Petition reveals that it has actually no allegations against respondent Senate," the Senate said in the three-page manifestation as it asked the court to excuse it from submitting a comment.

It asked the Supreme Court to instead admit its manifestation in place of the comment required.

VP Sara Duterte asks SC to block Senate from holding an impeachment trial

The Senate also noted it has the sole power to try and decide impeachment cases.

The manifestation was signed by the Senate Legal Counsel, Maria Valentina Santana-Cruz.

A press release from the Office of Senate President Francis Escudero explained that a Manifestation Ad Cautelam is a declaration made “out of caution” as a response to a petition filed in court.

Copies of the Senate’s manifestation were furnished to the Fortun Narvasa & Salazar law office, which serves as counsel for Duterte; the House of Representatives, through Speaker Martin Romualdez; House Secretary General Reginald Velasco; and the Office of the Solicitor General.

Apart from Duterte's petition, Kingdom of Jesus Christ lawyer Israelito Torreon and others have also asked the Supreme Court to halt the impeachment trial, arguing the House's impeachment of the vice president was "procedurally defective, constitutionally infirm, and jurisdictionally void."

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