The Senate said it “lacks sufficient knowledge or information” on the matters sought by the Supreme Court (SC) on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

It asked the SC that its manifestation be treated as sufficient compliance to the High Court’s full court resolution issued last July 8.

The manifestation ad cautelam (with caution) dated last July 15 was filed by Senate Legal Counsel Maria Valentina S. Santana-Cruz.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have received the July 8 SC resolution. Both Houses of Congress were given 10 days from receipt to comply.

Required to be submitted to the SC were information under oath and accompanied by relevant documents are:

a. Status of the first three complaints;

b. The exact dates in when the complaints filed by private citizens and were endorsed by member of the House of Congress;

c. If the Secretary General of the House of Representatives has the discretion to forward impeachment complaint filed by private citizens if endorsed by a member of the House of Representatives;

d. If the Secretary General can refuse the transmittal of impeachment complaints filed any private person

e. As to the complaints filed a private citizen and regardless of legal position of respondents, the number of session days that lapsed from the time the complaints were properly endorsed by a member of the House of Representatives to its transmittal to the speaker of the House and its inclusion to the order of business;

f. Which officer/committee prepared the draft of the Articles of Impeachment and when it was completed;

g. When was the Articles of Impeachment circulated to the members of the Senate after it was transmitted by the House of Representatives;

h. On the Articles of Impeachment already transmitted, when was it circulated and if it was accompanied by evidence;

i. Whether the Vice President was given an opportunity to be heard;

j. Does each member of the House of Representatives had time to peruse the charges before affixing their signature;

k. When was the Articles of Impeachment that was transmitted to the Senate included in the House of Representatives' order of business for consideration by the entire plenary.

In its manifestation, the Senate told the SC that “under items (a) to (k) of the said Resolution, it is not in a position to reply to the Honorable Court’s directive.”

It also said that the information required by the SC, particularly under items (a) to (e), are the same information sought by the Senate, as an impeachment court, from the House of Representatives in an order dated June 11, 2025.

Thus, it said: “Respondent Senate believes that it is only Respondent House of Representative and/or the Secretary General of the House of Representatives who have knowledge and information on the said matters and will be in a position to provide the required information.”

Last February, Vice President Duterte asked the SC to nullify for alleged constitutional violation the impeachment complaint that was filed against her by the House of Representatives before the Senate for trial.

The Vice President asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the House from proceeding with the impeachment trial and for the Senate to desist from acting on the complaint.

She also asked the SC that “after proper proceedings, issue a final injunction, nullify and set aside the Fourth Impeachment Complaint filed on February 5, 2025, declare the One-Year Bar to be applicable from the filing of the First Impeachment Complaint, declare the Fourth Impeachment Complaint to be violative of the One-Year Bar under Section 3(5), Article XI of the Constitution and therefore prohibited, and consequently, enjoin respondent Senate or any of its members or representatives from acting on the Fourth Impeachment Complaint in any way.”

Another petition against the impeachment was filed by several lawyers, led by Esraelito P. Torreon, and residents of Davao City.

Both petitions were ordered consolidated by the SC, also in its July 8 resolution.

The Senate, as the impeachment court, has yet to start trial on the impeachment complaint.