Senate President Francis Escudero announced on Monday that all 215 signatures on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte were handwritten, or ‘wet’ signatures, and not electronic. Escudero emphasized that the verification process involved at least four individuals who each reviewed the signatures at least twice to ensure their authenticity. Additionally, an online application was used to further confirm that the signatures were indeed wet signatures and not electronic ones.
Escudero highlighted that the Senate Secretariat’s role is to ensure the impeachment complaint adheres to the constitutional requirement that at least one-third of the House members must sign with wet signatures, as electronic signatures are not permissible for such complaints. He stressed that the verification process is straightforward: confirming the signatures are wet and ensuring that the signatories are legitimate members of the House of Representatives.
He also clarified that under current laws, electronic signatures are only valid for resolutions, proposed bills, and committee reports, but not for impeachment complaints. As the verification continues, Escudero assured that the Senate will handle the case impartially, adhering strictly to constitutional guidelines and established precedents.