Groups Demand Senate to Uphold Impeachment Complaint Against Sara Duterte
MANILA, Philippines – Advocacy groups Tindig Pilipinas, Kalipunan ng Kilusang Masa, and Simbahan at Komunidad Laban sa Katiwalian rallied at the Senate on Wednesday morning. They urged senators to reject the dismissal and proceed with the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Since February 2025, these groups have persistently called on the Senate to continue the impeachment trial. Kiko Aquino Dee, co-convenor of Tindig Pilipinas, emphasized their firm stance against dismissing the case.
Senate Faces Three Clear Options, Say Advocates
Dee outlined the three choices the Senate has, referencing former Justice Adolfo Azcuna’s analysis. “First is to dismiss the impeachment complaint—this is what our group strongly opposes. Second, they can proceed with the impeachment process, which might create a conflict in interpretation between the Senate and the Supreme Court. Third, they can postpone the vote due to pending motions for reconsideration filed with the Supreme Court,” he explained.
The impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of misusing confidential funds. It was initially filed in the House of Representatives on February 5, 2025, before being forwarded to the Senate.
Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Debate Over Jurisdiction
On July 25, the Supreme Court declared the impeachment complaint unconstitutional. This decision has ignited debate among advocacy groups and legal experts who argue it represents judicial overreach. They contend that impeachment is a political process that Congress alone should handle.
Dee acknowledged the Supreme Court’s decision is currently executory but stressed it is not yet final. He urged the Senate to postpone any dismissal and wait until the Supreme Court resolves the pending motions for reconsideration.
“Some motions were filed just last week, and others as recently as yesterday. Our opposition is against outright dismissal. If the Senate proceeds with the trial, we support it fully. But if they choose to postpone the vote to allow the Supreme Court time to decide on the motions, we accept that as well,” Dee added.
These developments highlight the tension between the judiciary and legislative branches over the impeachment process. For more news and updates on impeachment complaint, visit Filipinokami.com.
