Statement of Malacañang on SC Declaring Duterte’s Impeachment Articles “Unconstitutional”
Malacañang spoke anew on the ruling of the Supreme Court over the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Countless opinions crossed the surface following the decision of the Supreme Court on the impeachment complaint filed against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The Supreme Court declared the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Duterte “unconstitutional”.
According to the Supreme Court, the impeachment complaint against Duterte did not follow the one year ban rule stated in the Constitution with regards to impeachment cases. There was a 13-0 voting result from the justices.
The Vice President was impeached by the House of Representatives last February. Four (4) impeachment complaints were filed against her and the fourth complaint was the one transmitted to the Senate.
Before the 19th Congress adjourned, the Senate impeachment court ruled to return the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. The Court sought clarification over the issues of constitutionality of the complaint.
Eighteen (18) senator judges supported the motion to return Duterte’s impeachment to the House but Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero clarified that the move does not equate to the dismissal of the impeachment case. Five (5) senator judges were not in favor of the motion.
YES
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Robin Padilla
- Bong Revilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
NO
- Koko Pimentel
- Risa Hontiveros
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Grace Poe
- Nancy Binay
Amid the issues and the allegations linking Pres. Bongbong Marcos to the impeachment move against the Vice President, Malacañang reiterated several times that Marcos Jr. will not intervene in the impeachment process.
The public expects the Senate impeachment court to start the trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte a week after the opening of the 20th Congress. Sen. Joel Villanueva previously claimed that some senators agree to begin the impeachment trial on August 4.
However, ahead of the expected start of the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, the decision of the Supreme Court on the petition seeking for the dismissal of the impeachment case against the Vice President was released. It earned several comments including a statement from Malacañang.
Based on a report on Inquirer, the House of Representatives is planning to file a motion for reconsideration over its decision over Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s Articles of Impeachment. As for Malacañang, it reiterated its respect on the ruling of the Supreme Court but admitted that it does not necessarily mean that it agrees with it.
“Siyempre alam naman natin kung sino ang final arbiter kundi ang Supreme Court, iba kasi yung nire-respeto mo ang desisyon ng Supreme Court iba naman yung pinaniniwalaan mo ba kung tama ba yung desisyon ng Supreme Court, magkaiba yun di ba,” Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire T. Castro told DZMM Teleradyo.
Despite not necessarily agreeing with the decision of the Supreme Court, Malacañang also stressed that there is no other choice but to respect the ruling. The Palace official claimed that there might be really instances when the high court seemingly does not follow the past jurisprudence.
“So may pagkakataon masasabi natin na ‘Uy, mukhang mali ang Supreme Court dito dahil mukhang hindi nasunod yung mga dating jurisprudence.’ Pero kapag nagsalita ang Supreme Court wala tayong magagawa kundi irespeto ito,” Castro said.
Following the decision of the high court, former Sen. Leila de Lima raised questions on the process of the Supreme Court ruling over Duterte’s impeachment case.