MANILA, Philippines — The progressive Makabayan coalition has urgently filed a motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court, seeking to reverse the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. Their move aims to keep the impeachment case alive despite the Senate’s vote to archive the articles.
The original complainants and endorsers of the second impeachment complaint lodged last December 4 include former Representatives France Castro (ACT Teachers), Raoul Manuel (Kabataan), Arlene Brosas (Gabriela), alongside current Kabataan Representative Renee Co and ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio. Together, they stand united in appealing the Supreme Court ruling.
Motion Challenges Supreme Court Decision
Bayan president Renato Reyes explained to local media that they filed the appeal as intervenors in the Duterte v. House of Representatives case. On July 25, the Supreme Court ruled that the fourth impeachment complaint, endorsed by 215 lawmakers in February, violated the one-year bar rule.
The Makabayan coalition argues that upholding the Supreme Court decision would only push accountability further out of reach and place heavy technical and procedural barriers on constitutional remedies that the Constitution itself does not impose.
They also criticize seven procedural guidelines introduced by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in the decision. According to them, these guidelines represent a substantive change to the constitutional text and infringe upon the legislature’s exclusive powers.
New Procedural Requirements Questioned
Among the newly introduced rules are mandates for “collective deliberation” in the House of Representatives and a “standard of proof” for impeachment complaints. The ruling also demands that all evidence be attached to the complaint and distributed to every House member, a step not explicitly required by the Constitution.
Another controversial requirement is that the respondent must be heard on the draft articles before impeachment proceedings advance. Makabayan’s intervenors warn this imposes trial-like due process at an early stage, altering the constitutional design of impeachment.
They emphasize that these procedural hurdles unfairly burden the House and undermine its sole authority to initiate impeachment.
Disputing the One-Year Bar Application
Agreeing with the House prosecution panel, the Makabayan group insists the fourth impeachment complaint was timely. It was transmitted to the Senate on February 5, before earlier complaints filed by civil society groups in December were archived.
They argue the Court introduced a new interpretation where the one-year bar may begin from inaction or partial action on a complaint, even without referral to the Committee on Justice.
Previous landmark rulings held that impeachment proceedings begin upon filing and referral to the proper committee. The group stressed that the House’s approval of the fourth complaint initiated the impeachment, whereas earlier complaints were never formally acted upon.
Legitimacy of Complaint Transmission Defended
The coalition also maintains the House was correct to transmit the fourth complaint, endorsed by 215 lawmakers, over the earlier complaints filed by civil society groups. They point out that the Constitution does not prioritize citizen-filed complaints over those filed by lawmakers.
Both citizen and lawmaker complaints represent distinct, equal, and valid paths to start impeachment proceedings.
Makabayan’s motion marks the third intervention outside the House challenging the Supreme Court’s July 25 decision dismissing the complaint endorsed by 215 lawmakers as unconstitutional. Other civil society groups, including one led by Francisco Dee and 1Sambayan, have also filed appeals.
Allegations Against Vice President Duterte
The complaint accuses Vice President Sara Duterte of grave misconduct including culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft, and other high crimes. These charges stem from allegations she misused P612.5 million in confidential funds during her tenure as vice president and education secretary from 2022 to 2024.
For more news and updates on impeachment complaint, visit Filipinokami.com.
