Philippine senators have set themselves as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte over corruption and other criminal allegations but they voted to send the raft of complaints back to the House of Representatives due to legal questions.

Philippine senators on Tuesday voted to send an impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte back to the lower house for clarification, just hours after convening a trial that could see her banned from politics for life.

Filipino Catholic bishops criticized the Senate for delaying the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, who is accused of misusing public funds and plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.