Senate Impeachment Court Faces Questions Over Swift Action
MANILA, Philippines—The Senate impeachment court is rushing to comply with the Supreme Court ruling that dismissed the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. This sudden urgency contrasts sharply with their earlier delay in convening ‘forthwith’ as the Constitution requires, raising concerns among officials and observers.
House prosecution panel spokesperson Antonio Audie Bucoy expressed skepticism about the Senate’s haste. “It would also show that they’re really rushing to finish this when last time, just four months ago, they were taking their time,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English. Bucoy questioned why the Senate impeachment court now acts quickly on a ruling that might still be overturned.
While Bucoy acknowledged that the Senate has the authority to vote on dismissing the case, especially after the Supreme Court’s advisory reaffirmed its July 25 decision declaring the fourth impeachment complaint unconstitutional and immediately executory, he urged caution.
“There is still a motion for reconsideration and therefore not yet final,” Bucoy emphasized. He added, “They (the Senate) may abide by the ruling now, they may not. But as I’ve said, out of respect for the high tribunal that’s still deciding on our motion for reconsideration, they should wait for the final disposition of the Court.”
This marks Bucoy’s first public statement since the Supreme Court’s decision, which he believes weakens the ability to hold impeachable officials accountable.
Seven New Requirements Challenge Impeachment Process
A key issue raised by Bucoy is the introduction of seven new requirements for initiating impeachment complaints. These include the need for “collective deliberation” by the House and a new “standard of proof” for complaints.
These requirements depart from the traditional impeachment initiation standards, which have long been considered the sole prerogative of Congress, as confirmed in earlier cases like Francisco v. House and Gutierrez v. Committee on Justice. Bucoy lamented, “Sad to say, the ruling really weakened our mechanisms to hold public officials accountable. Impeachment…is meant to protect the body politic, not the impeachable officer.”
In response, the House prosecution team, through the Office of the Solicitor General, filed an appeal asking the Supreme Court to reverse its ruling or at least apply the new impeachment rules only to future complaints, not the current one.
Senate’s Imminent Decision on Supreme Court Ruling
The Senate is set to decide today, August 6, whether to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling. Last week, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada revealed that an overwhelming majority of senators support abiding by the court’s decision.
Estrada shared that during a recent all-senator caucus, “19 to 20” out of 24 senators agreed they should follow the Supreme Court’s declaration that the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte violates the one-year bar rule.
With the Senate moving swiftly after months of delay, questions linger on whether this rush undermines due process and the pursuit of justice. The situation highlights the complex interplay between judicial authority and legislative responsibility in impeachment cases.
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