Supreme Court Impeachment Complaint Sparks Fiery Review Calls

Supreme Court Impeachment Complaint Sparks Calls for Review

MANILA — Legal experts and opposition groups have raised urgent questions about the Supreme Court’s handling of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. The focus is on the timeline, procedures, and the surprising speed with which the tribunal dismissed the case. The court’s quick decision has stirred debate about transparency and due process.

The key issue revolves around how the Supreme Court, after months of seeming inactivity and without holding public hearings or oral arguments, managed to prepare and release a detailed 97-page ruling in just one day. This swift action challenges expectations and prompts scrutiny.

Experts Highlight Missing Months in Case Process

Between December 2024 and February 2025, four impeachment complaints were filed against Vice President Duterte. Three came from private citizens and advocacy groups, while the fourth complaint, submitted on February 5, 2025, was backed by more than a third of the House of Representatives and quickly sent to the Senate.

In February, the Supreme Court asked the House of Representatives, its Secretary General Reginald Velasco, and the Senate to respond to Duterte’s petition to stop the impeachment proceedings. This was a standard procedural move in sensitive cases.

Afterward, the case seemed to stall. No hearings, no updates, and no visible progress occurred until July 8, when the Court ordered both congressional chambers to answer specific questions within 10 days. The House responded on July 21, but notably, there was no Supreme Court en banc session set that day. Then heavy rains and floods forced the Court’s closure from July 22 to 24.

On July 25, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the impeachment complaint, ruling it unconstitutional based on the “one-year bar” rule. This rule prevents more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official within a single year.

The ruling was declaratory and based on procedural grounds, without oral arguments or full evidentiary hearings. This sudden resolution has caused concern among experts and citizens alike. They wonder how such a lengthy and complex decision was crafted and issued so quickly, without standard judicial processes such as hearings or memoranda.

Opposition Calls Supreme Court Timeline ‘Demonstrably False’

The opposition coalition 1Sambayan issued a formal statement sharply criticizing the Supreme Court’s version of events. They pointed out “critical factual inaccuracies” in the Court’s timeline and reasoning.

“House records clearly show the 4th complaint was filed on February 5, 2025, before the House adjourned and before the first three complaints were dismissed,” 1Sambayan said. “The House plenary acted on and voted for the 4th complaint before archiving the initial three.”

According to 1Sambayan, the sequence on February 5 was: plenary vote on the 4th complaint; archiving of the first three complaints; transmission of the 4th complaint to the Senate at 4:57 PM; then adjournment at 7:15 PM.

“Thus, the 4th complaint was adopted before the one-year bar rule started, which the Supreme Court itself said began upon the House’s adjournment. The Court’s factual errors invalidate its conclusion,” the coalition stressed.

1Sambayan further argued that the Supreme Court misunderstood the timeline and procedural actions of the House, leading to an incorrect ruling on the timeliness of the fourth complaint.

Legal Experts Say Ruling Rewrites Impeachment Law

Former Akbayan representative and human rights lawyer Barry Gutierrez backed 1Sambayan’s points, saying, “The 4th complaint was voted on and acted upon BEFORE the first three complaints were archived or dismissed.”

“How can the 4th complaint be barred by something that hadn’t occurred yet?” he questioned.

Gutierrez added that the Supreme Court’s ruling effectively rewrites impeachment law and practice. Posting on social media, he explained that the Court introduced new procedural thresholds, such as equating “initiation” with “dismissal,” which differs from past standards.

According to the ruling, the one-year bar starts not when complaints are filed, but when previous complaints are dismissed or archived. Because the first three complaints were archived on February 5, the Court said no new impeachment complaint could be filed before February 6, 2026, barring the fourth complaint filed on the same day.

Gutierrez also noted that the decision imposes new rules and evidentiary standards, steering impeachment toward a judicial rather than political process. He warned that this shifts away from respecting the House’s constitutional role.

Calls for Review and Greater Judicial Transparency

Both Gutierrez and 1Sambayan are urging the Supreme Court to review and correct what they see as significant factual mistakes. They warn that the ruling’s impact goes beyond this case, threatening due process, fairness, and the integrity of impeachment procedures.

In their statement, 1Sambayan called for a re-examination of the decision based on verified House records. They emphasized the need for transparent and truthful accounting of events to ensure future rulings are just and accurate.

“The integrity of the judicial system demands swift and decisive action to address these errors,” the coalition said.

For more news and updates on Supreme Court impeachment complaint, visit Filipinokami.com.

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