VP Impeachment trial to continue despite pending PH Supreme Court petition

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will move forward despite a petition asking the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the proceedings until the issue of Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero's authority to preside over the impeachment court is resolved, the court's spokesperson said Tuesday.

Speaking at a press briefing, impeachment court spokesperson attorney Reginald Tongol said anyone may seek relief before the SC. However, if the High Court issues a temporary restraining order (TRO), he said the impeachment court, as a collegial body, would have to vote on how to respond.

“I think pagbubotohan po ‘yun ng impeachment court as a collegial body,” Tongol said.

“Because this is a collegial body, not a single person can speak for the body. So mas mabuti pong pagbobotohan kung susundan ng Kongreso o ng Senado ‘yung mga ganong order from another co-equal branch of government,” he added.

On Monday, a group of lawyers led by Israelito Torreon filed a very urgent manifestation with motion before the SC seeking a status quo ante order to stop the impeachment court and its officers from proceeding with the trial pending resolution of the challenge to Escudero's authority.

The petitioners also asked the High Court to ensure that the impeachment proceedings are conducted only under impeachment rules that were validly adopted and before a presiding officer whose authority is no longer subject to constitutional questions.

Asked whether the trial would continue despite the pending petition, Tongol said it would because the SC has yet to issue any order suspending the proceedings.

“Tama po dahil wala namang pong in-issue na TRO or status quo ante-order,” he said.

Tongol added that the Senate would observe the sub judice rule and that the impeachment court would refrain from making further comments on the pending case before the SC.

“As the presiding officer said yesterday and was confirmed earlier, any person can raise the matter. Pwede po nilang i-exhaust yung kanilang mga legal remedies and ‘yun po ‘yung nakita natin,” he said.

The impeachment trial entered its second day on Tuesday and is scheduled to resume on Wednesday.

-Paraluman News