India, June 9 -- The Senate on Monday evening referred the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to its Committee on Rules, formally initiating proceedings that could lead to the convening of an impeachment court.

The move came after Senate President Francis Escudero took his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court, in a symbolic step seen as a prelude to the trial.

Senator Joel Villanueva made the motion to refer the complaint to the Committee on Rules during the plenary session, following a manifestation from Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III urging the chamber to immediately begin trial proceedings as mandated by the Constitution.

Pimentel cited Article XI, Section 3 (4) of the 1987 Constitu...