Manila, Philippines – The Supreme Court officially ordered the House of Representatives Committee on Justice to comment on the petitions filed by Vice President Sara Duterte seeking to halt the impeachment complaints and the proceedings.
In a decision dated April 8, the SC En Banc gave the House Justice Committee 10 days since receipt of notice to respond to the consolidated petitions.
On March 30, Duterte filed before the SC a petition for certiorari and prohibition asking the High Court to declare the impeachment proceedings as unconstitutional.
This is still aside from the prayer for a Temporary Restraining Order and other legal remedies to stop the House and the Senate—as an impeachment court—from conducting related actions.
SC clarified that the decision does not give due course to the petitions, and has not issued any TRO or any of the other legal remedies sought after.
PROCEEDINGS TO CONTINUE WITHOUT TRO, SAYS HOUSE SPEAKER
Following this decision, the House of Representatives said that it respects the decision and the processes of the Court.
House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy said that since there is no TRO and similar legal restraints, the Lower Chamber will continue with its constitutional mandate in relation to the impeachment proceedings.
Dy noted that the second hearing set on April 14 shall proceed in line with the existing rules and is evidence-based.
He added that the impeachment proceedings are part of the constitutional process of accountability.
The Makabayan Bloc in the Congress, meanwhile, criticized Duterte’s petition, calling it a desperate move to evade accountability.
They argued that the proceedings are aligned with rules and that due process is followed in every step.
Makabayan emphasized that the High Court should not be used as a shield to avoid accountability from the law.