The Senate impeachment court will have to decide whether or not to heed the Supreme Court’s decision barring the Senate from taking up the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Vice President Sara Duterte (OVP Photo)

Atty. Regie Tongol, spokesperson of the impeachment court, confirmed this saying it is part of the process observed by members of the Upper Chamber under the Senate rules.

Tongol also confirmed that the Senate has already received a copy of the Supreme Court’s decision through email, transmitted to them on the night of July 25, 2025.

The Court ruled that the Senate cannot act on the Articles of Impeachment because the House of Representatives violated the one-year ban rule.

In an interview, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero had said that whatever decision the SC will release in response to the pending petitions regarding the vice president’s trial will still have to be deliberated upon by the members of the Senate.

“Whatever is the decision of the Supreme Court, it will still go through the impeachment court,” Escudero said, citing the trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona as an example.

“For example, during the time of former Chief Justice Corona, the court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) not to open his foreign currency deposit accounts. What the Senate did was discuss it during a caucus—not even in plenary—in a caucus. And it was decided, attended physically and virtually by members of the Senate, whether or not to follow the tro of the SC,” he pointed out.

“That was the precedent that the Senate set then via a vote of 13-10, the Senate's decision was to follow the temporary restraining order of the SC, so the Senate did not open the foreign currency deposits of former chief justice Corona,” he recalled.

Nevertheless, Escudero said he believes the SC’s decision should be respected.

“Comments of overreach with respect to the SC’s decision put them on a position as if they are higher, better, more intelligent than the SC when it comes to the law. But as lawyers, we all know that. If the regional trial court or municipal trial court makes a mistake, the Court of Appeals can review it. If the Court of Appeals makes a mistake, the SC can review it,” he said.

“If the SC makes a decision, whether you agree with it or not, it becomes part of the law of the land,” he stressed.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, for his part, agreed that the Senate, as a body, should decide as as soon as possible whether or not to pursue the impeachment trial.

“On my part, I suggest let’s not wait for the motion for reconsideration (to be filed by the House). We need to decide whether to continue the trial or not. If the trial continues, the question would be what is the jurisdiction of the Senate? Because the SC said it seems like the Senate effectively has no jurisdiction because it’s as if the Articles of Impeachment is invalid,” Lacson pointed out.

“If we continue the trial, we will have to contend that it (Senate) has jurisdiction because it has already begun,” the senator pointed out.

While there are two schools of thought on this issue, Lacson said it is necessary for lawmakers to consult law experts on what should be done so they can be guided individually when they cast their vote.

“But I have formed my decision, it's done. For me, the bottom line is, let's respect the SC ruling, otherwise the rule of law in our country is casualty,” Lacson said.