Senate archives impeachment rap vs. VP Duterte

The Senate last week voted to archive the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, following a Supreme Court ruling that declared the case “null and void from the beginning” and ruled that the Senate never acquired jurisdiction over it.

With 19 senators voting in favor, four against, and one abstaining, the chamber approved a motion by Senator Rodante Marcoleta to abide by the Supreme Court’s July 25 decision, which deemed the complaint unconstitutional due to a violation of the one-year bar rule and the respondent’s right to due process. 

The ruling was declared immediately executory.

A separate motion by Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III to suspend action on the issue was defeated by a 19-5 vote.

Senate President Francis Escudero emphasized the finality of the High Court’s ruling, reminding his colleagues that the judiciary is the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution. He warned that selectively honoring court rulings would undermine the rule of law and risk triggering a constitutional crisis.

“Let this chamber be remembered not for the passions we inflamed, but for the principles we upheld,” Escudero said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada echoed the sentiment, calling any defiance of the Supreme Court an “unforgivable assault” on democratic institutions. 

Majority Leader Joel Villanueva described the SC ruling as a vindication of the Senate’s earlier decision to return the Articles of Impeachment to the House due to procedural issues.

Other senators, including Ronald Dela Rosa, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano, Raffy Tulfo, Loren Legarda, and Erwin Tulfo, cited constitutional fidelity in supporting the motion. Tulfo clarified his vote, saying: “I voted yes not to absolve the Vice President but to defend the legal process.”

On the other hand, Sotto, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino opposed the move, citing the House of Representatives’ pending motion for reconsideration. 

Hontiveros warned that the Senate was abandoning its constitutional role to try impeachment cases, while Pangilinan argued that archiving the complaint was premature and potentially outside the Senate’s proper function.

Senator Panfilo Lacson abstained, explaining he preferred to wait for the final SC decision before making a definitive judgment.

The impeachment complaint, filed during the 19th Congress, was sent to the Senate in June but was returned to the House for clarification on whether it wished to pursue the case. 

The Supreme Court later voided the complaint for violating constitutional rules and depriving the Vice President of due process.