MANILA (Reuters) -Philippine senators were sworn in as jurors on Tuesday in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, who faces a lifetime political ban if convicted of high crimes and betraying the public trust.

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.

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.