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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Handling of impeachment raps constitutional, says Abante as Pinoys await SC decision

Handling of impeachment raps constitutional, says Abante as Pinoys await SC decision

Published Jul 22, 2025 07:41 pm

At A Glance

  • House of Representatives Spokesperson Princess Abante has underscored the lower chamber's faithful adherence to the 1987 Constitution as Filipinos await the Supreme Court's (SC) ruling on Vice President Sara Duterte's petition to dismiss the impeachment complaint against her.
House of Representatives Spokesperson Princess Abante (PPAB)
House of Representatives Spokesperson Princess Abante (PPAB)


House of Representatives Spokesperson Princess Abante has underscored the lower chamber's faithful adherence to the 1987 Constitution as Filipinos await the Supreme Court's (SC) ruling on Vice President Sara Duterte's petition to dismiss the impeachment complaint against her.
Abante, a lawyer, reiterated that the impeachment complaints filed in the House of Representatives against Duterte during the previous 19th Congress were all handled in full accordance with the Charter.
“All impeachment complaints, as we have answered before the [SC], were transmitted and included in the order of business (OB) within 10 session days,” Abante pointed out.
“Again, according to the provisions of the Constitution, we are looking forward that as co-equal branch of government that the Supreme Court will see the wisdom of the actions of the House of Representatives in its role in the impeachment proceedings,” she said. 
House prosecutors have been waiting for Duterte's impeachment trial to start since Feb. 5, or when the articles of impeachment were submitted to the Senate. It's the senator-judges' task to render judgement on the lady official based on these artiicles.
Abante reiterated that it is now the Senate’s turn to fulfill its constitutional mandate.
“The Senate also will now conduct its role in the impeachment proceedings by conducting the trial so that they can try and decide the impeachment complaints based on evidence and merits,” she said.
The Senate impeachment court will reportedly reconvene on Aug. 4 to tackle the impeachment complaint.
The House earlier confirmed that it has complied with the SC order to provide additional information on the impeachment of Vice President Duterte. 
According to Abante, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), as the House’s legal counsel, electronically filed the required compliance and served all parties, with a physical copy to be formally submitted to the high tribunal.
In its submission, the House maintained that all four impeachment complaints were processed in accordance with constitutional mandates. The three initial complaints were included in the OB within the required 10-session-day period. 
The fourth complaint--signed and verified by more than one-third of House members--constituted the articles of impeachment and was transmitted directly to the Senate, rendering the earlier complaints moot and subject to archiving.
The impeachment articles--endorsed by 215 House members and overwhelmingly approved by the plenary--accused Vice President Duterte of graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust and other high crimes. 
The charges include allegations of misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds during her concurrent tenure as Depaetment of Education (DepEd) secretary, defiance of congressional oversight, and failure to uphold civilian supremacy over the police and military.
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