Senator Raffy Tulfo Ready as Senator-Judge but Respects Court
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Raffy Tulfo expressed readiness to fulfill his duties as a senator-judge, yet he emphasized his respect for the Supreme Court’s mandate regarding the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte. Tulfo stated this clearly on Saturday, underlining his commitment to the constitutional role while acknowledging the court’s authority.
“While I have been ready to perform my Constitutional mandate as a judge in the impeachment court, I likewise respect the mandate of the Supreme Court to determine if certain actions or processes of the other branches of government went beyond or against the provisions of our Constitution,” Tulfo said in a brief statement.
Supreme Court Rules Impeachment Unconstitutional
On Friday, the Supreme Court en banc ruled unanimously, with a 13-0 vote, that the impeachment articles against Vice President Duterte are unconstitutional. The court cited the “one-year rule,” which bars the House impeachment complaint against the Vice President, and emphasized that due process and fairness must be observed throughout the impeachment proceedings.
As a result, the Supreme Court declared the decision immediately executory. Consequently, the Senate cannot claim jurisdiction over the impeachment case, according to SC spokesperson Camille Ting.
Background of the Impeachment Complaint
The impeachment complaint was transmitted to the Senate on February 5 by the House of Representatives, backed by 215 lawmakers. Notably, House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos, son of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., were among the signatories.
The complaint accuses Vice President Duterte of “culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and graft and corruption.”
Senate’s Response to the Complaint
On June 10, the Senate convened as an impeachment court but opted to return the complaint to the House within hours. The senators highlighted the need to ensure that constitutional safeguards and jurisdictional concerns were properly addressed before proceeding.
For more news and updates on impeachment case, visit Filipinokami.com.
