PhilConSa Speaks on SC Ruling over VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Case
SARA DUTERTE – The Philippine Constitution Association Foundation Inc. (PhilConSa) claimed that the Supreme Court allegedly ‘gifted itself a new power’ with its ruling on the impeachment case of the Vice President.
Prior to the opening of the 20th Congress, the Supreme Court released its decision declaring the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Duterte as “unconstitutional”. According to the court, it did not follow the one-year rule with regards to impeachments.
The Court clarified that its ruling does not dismisses the charges filed against the Vice President but it sparked doubts on whether or not a trial will proceed. The ruling is immediately executory but a motion for reconsideration may be filed.
Some complainants have already filed a motion for reconsideration as they seek for the reversal of the decision of the high court. The House of Representatives previously stressed that the Supreme Court ruling on the impeachment case of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is ‘not yet final’.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s camp welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court. The Vice President thanked her legal team, the petitioners, and the people who prayed for justice for her over the impeachment complaints against her.
However, there were also those who expressed questions and opposition to the ruling of the Supreme Court. Former Senator and now Mamamayang Liberal party-list representative Leila de Lima asked about the process of the Supreme Court in the Supreme Court ruling over Duterte’s impeachment. She stressed that the House was allegedly not given the chance to file a formal Comment.
Recently, the Philippine Constitution Association Foundation Inc. or PhilConSa also spoke on the ruling of the Supreme Court over the impeachment case of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on a report on PhilStar, the foundation claimed that with its ruling, the high court allegedly “gifted itself” a new power.
PhilConSa chairperson and former chief justice Reynato Puno expressed deep concern on the implementation of seven new rules in the process of impeachment as set by the Supreme Court for compliance by the lower chamber. According to him, the new rules can allegedly deprive the House of its “exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment”.
Among the requirements set by the Supreme Court was that the draft of the Articles of Impeachment must come along with sufficient evidence. Furthermore, according to the court, there should be enough time for the members of the House of Representatives to decide on whether or not to endorse the complaint against an impeachable official.
Based on the report, Puno claimed that the role of the justices is to “strictly serve as umpires” in interpreting the Constitution and should not be pitchers that would benefit a specific party. Furthermore, the chairperson of PhilConSa also stressed that the high court should not neglect the principle that prohibits the judicial branch from interfering in the initiation of an impeachment.
“The exercise of this new power which the Court gifted itself will border the anomalous when a member of the Court becomes a respondent in an impeachment case,” Puno said.
Previously, following his reelection in the House speakership, Speaker Martin Romualdez called on the House members not to bow in silence over the Supreme Court decision in Duterte’s impeachment. He stressed that the “exclusive” duty to initiate impeachment still belongs to the chamber.