Manila, June 17 -- Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Tuesday pushed back against Senate President Francis Escudero's claim that there are no limitations on what the Senate impeachment court can decide or what motions senators may raise, saying the constitutional oath of impartiality binds every senator-judge.

"Merong limitations. Di ba nag-oath kami (There are limitations. Didn't we take an oath)? Pimentel said in a briefing at the Senate.

His comments came in response to Escudero's earlier statement that no provision in the impeachment rules or the Rules of Court prohibits Senator Ronald dela Rosa from filing a controversial motion that did not dismiss the case against Vice President Sara Duterte, but returned the...