Supreme Court Demands Comments on House Impeachment Appeal
MANILA — The Supreme Court has directed Vice President Sara Duterte and her lawyer, Israelito Torreon, to submit their responses regarding the House of Representatives’ appeal. The appeal challenges the Court’s July 25 decision that declared the impeachment complaint against Duterte unconstitutional.
Duterte and Torreon must comply within 10 non-extendible days from receiving the notice. This deadline underlines the urgency of addressing the House impeachment appeal in the ongoing legal process.
House Challenges Supreme Court’s Impeachment Ruling
In a comprehensive 70-page motion for reconsideration, the House—represented by the Office of the Solicitor General—argued that the impeachment process should not be hindered by procedural technicalities not explicitly stated in the Constitution.
The House emphasized that while due process is essential, the Constitution already safeguards this through Article XI, Section 3, during the Senate impeachment trial. According to sources, the House maintains that the Supreme Court’s guidelines add unnecessary layers to the impeachment process.
Supreme Court Sets Guidelines for Impeachment Process
The Supreme Court laid out a seven-point guideline to ensure fairness in impeachment proceedings. These include providing the respondent with a copy of the Articles of Impeachment and the supporting evidence, as well as granting sufficient time to respond.
However, the House contends these requirements interfere with their constitutional prerogatives. They pointed out that under the Constitution, the filing of a complaint supported by one-third of the House members is the sole act needed to trigger the transmittal to the Senate for trial.
Constitutional Balance and Political Accountability
“Article III works to protect citizens from the overwhelming machinery of the government, Article XI is a tool for citizens to seek accountability against those who hold the most power in said machinery,” the House explained in their motion.
Local analysts note that this case highlights the tension between protecting individual rights and holding public officials accountable through impeachment.
As the Supreme Court awaits the comments from Duterte and her legal counsel, the nation watches closely how this legal battle unfolds. The resolution will have significant implications for the impeachment process and separation of powers in the Philippines.
For more news and updates on House impeachment appeal, visit Filipinokami.com.
