Senate President Francis Escudero confirmed Tuesday that the Senate will not convene as an impeachment court after the Supreme Court effectively blocked a trial for Vice President Sara Duterte.
Supreme Court Ruling Halts VP Duterte Impeachment Trial
The Senate will abide by the Supreme Court’s decision invalidating impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte.
- The Senate will not act as an impeachment court due to a Supreme Court ruling.
- The Supreme Court declared impeachment articles against VP Duterte invalid, citing a House violation.
- The House breached the one-year bar rule in filing its complaint.
- Senators will discuss the Supreme Court’s directive in a caucus.
- Several senators disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision and may seek reconsideration.
Escudero cited the Supreme Court’s decision, which deemed the impeachment articles against Duterte invalid due to a constitutional violation by the House of Representatives. The Court found the House breached the one-year bar rule when filing its impeachment complaint, placing the case outside the Senate’s jurisdiction.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling is final and immediately executory,” Escudero stated. “Whether we like the Supreme Court’s decision or not, we might be called a banana republic if we do not follow it.”
The Senate received the official copy of the ruling on July 25. Escudero warned of a potential constitutional crisis if the Senate disregarded the Supreme Court’s order, emphasizing it’s a matter of adhering to the rule of law.
While confirming the Senate’s non-action as an impeachment court, Escudero noted the matter would still be discussed among senators in their legislative capacity. A caucus is scheduled to deliberate on how to proceed within Senate rules.
“It is part of the process observed under Senate rules,” he said. “The senators will deliberate on whether to heed the Supreme Court’s directive.”
Escudero referenced a 2012 precedent where the Senate respected a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court concerning bank records during the impeachment trial of then-Chief Justice Renato Corona. That decision was made via a 13-10 caucus vote. “That was the precedent,” he remarked. “The Senate decided whether or not to follow the TRO in a caucus—not even in plenary.”
However, Senators Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, and Francis Pangilinan issued a joint statement Monday, calling on the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision. They expressed “respectful disagreement” with the ruling, which invalidated the impeachment complaint as defective. The senators warned that the decision could set a dangerous precedent, undermining democratic checks and balances.
“Congress, acting in good faith and following prevailing jurisprudence, followed the law in initiating and transmitting the complaint,” the senators stated. “To retroactively apply a new definition of what it means to ‘initiate’ an impeachment case, after the fact, can be likened to changing the rules in the middle of the game. It is unfair.” They argued the Court’s interpretation disrupts the legislative process and could deter future accountability efforts against top officials.
Defense Team Remains Vigilant
Despite the legal victory, Vice President Duterte’s defense team indicated they are not resting, citing ongoing cases against her.
Defense spokesman Michael Wesley Poa stated that his team is prepared to address any potential motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives in the Supreme Court, as well as other cases against Duterte, including one before the Office of the Ombudsman concerning confidential funds.
“I don’t think now is the time to rest,” Poa said in an interview. “On our end, we just keep on monitoring the developments, not just with this case but with all other cases. Then we react accordingly.”
Poa reiterated Duterte’s consistent stance of wanting to respond to allegations once impeachment complaints reached the Senate.
