Spokesperson of House Speaks on Supreme Court Ruling over Duterte’s Impeachment Complaint
House of Representatives spokesperson Princess Abante called on the Senate to wait for the appeal over the Supreme Court ruling on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case.
Countless Filipinos await the fate of the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. There were calls to immediately start the impeachment trial but Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero turned down the calls saying they will follow the process.
Senator Joel Villanueva previously claimed that some senators agreed to start the impeachment trial on August 4 — a week after the 20th Congress opens to give both the Senate and the House of Representatives time to settle. However, ahead of the opening of the 20th Congress, the Supreme Court declared the impeachment articles against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte as “unconstitutional”.
According to the high court, the impeachment complaint against Duterte did not follow the one-year rule in the Constitution. The court also found that the Vice President was denied of her rights to due process.
There were four (4) impeachment complaints filed against Duterte in 2024. However, the complainants argue the other complaints were not referred to the Committee. The ruling of the Supreme Court is immediately executory but a motion for reconsideration may be filed.
Several complainants sought the reversal of the Supreme Court decision on the impeachment case versus Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and filed the motion for reconsideration. Recently, the House of Representatives urged the Senate to wait on the appeal to the Supreme Court.
Based on a report on Inquirer, House spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante stressed that the ruling of the Supreme Court is not yet final and the lower chamber may file a motion for reconsideration of the court’s decision.
“Sheer prudence dictates that the Senate allow the Supreme Court to hear the House in its Motion for Reconsideration,” Abante said.
The House spokesperson also expressed that the Senate voting for the abandonment of the impeachment trial of Duterte will allegedly be a “premature action”. Furthermore, based on the report, she stressed that it may be interpreted as a neglect of the due process.
“Worse, it may be construed as a political shortcut that undermines the constitutional role of the House,” the House spox said.
Based on the report, the House of Representatives has until August 11 to appeal the decision of the Supreme Court over the impeachment complaint against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Atty. Princess Abante called on the senators to “exercise prudence and patience” on the matter.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero previously claimed that the Senate will decide on the Supreme Court ruling over Duterte’s impeachment case on August 6. However, recently, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada claimed that 19-20 senators are likely to abide by the SC ruling which is allegedly tantamount to the dismissal of the impeachment”.