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.

The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in February to impeach Duterte for betrayal of public trust and high crimes, referring the case to the Senate to convene a trial. Duterte insists the impeachment is politically motivated and denies wrongdoing.