Lawyer-solons in the House of Representatives underscored on Saturday, Jan. 31 that the recent Supreme Court (SC) En Banc ruling on the impeachment didn't resolve any of the numerous allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said in a news forum in Quezon City that, in short, the high court decision didn't touch the merits of the impeachment case against Duterte in the 19th Congress--only procedural matters.

“Alam po ninyo naging decision po ng SC, hindi nila din dine-sisyunan ang substansya ng impeachment complaint. Ang pinag-usapan dito ang sheer technicality (You know, in the SC's decision, they did not actually rule on the substance of the impeachment complaint. What was tackled here was sheer technicality)," said Chua, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

“So pagdating sa substansya wala naman silang may mention dito kaya maganda rin at very interesting din dahil hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin na-resolve ang laman ng impeachment complaint,” he noted.

(So when it comes to the substance, there was no mention at all, which makes this very interesting because up to now, the actual content of the impeachment complaint remains unresolved.)

The Manila lawmaker said it was inaccurate to claim that the substance of the case had already been passed upon, since only the procedural questions were tackled.

Chua also pointed out that impeachment complaints often gain support as proceedings unfold and evidence is examined. A Senate impeachment trial never took place against Duterte.

“Alam po ninyo marami namang pagkakataon na kung makikita po ninyo ang impeachment complaint ay na-file noong una walang suporta, pero noong ito ay nailatag, noong ito ay nakita na ang substance, nagkakaroon ng suporta,” he noted.

(You see, there have been many instances where, if you look closely, an impeachment complaint at first had no support. But once it was laid out and the substance was seen, support began to build.)

Chua stressed that the unresolved allegations remain subject to congressional scrutiny.

Ridon, Committee on Public Accounts chairman echoed the assessment that the SC in its decision Thursday only tackled technicalities on the initiation of the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

“Ang pinag-debatehan lang sa Kongreso kung barred ba ‘yung trinansmit to the Senate (What Congress debated then was simply whether or not the transmittal to the Senate was bared),” Ridon said.

He said the SC’s decision revolved around technical and procedural questions, not the substantive allegations.

“So, I think even as filed, we just have to look at how the process will be this time,” said Ridon, who add that the House remains the proper forum to act on the substance of impeachment complaints.

Both lawmakers said the evaluation of impeachment cases ultimately rests on evidence and the judgment of Congress.

“So tama ang sinasabi ni Cong. Terry Ridon, ito ay magiging base sa konsyensya (So Cong. Terry Ridon is right in saying that, ultimately, this will rest on conscience),” Chua said.

There seven articles of impeachment against Vice President Duterte in the 19th Congress complaint are as follows: Conspiracy to assassinate President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez; Malversation of P612.5 million in confidential funds; Bribery and corruption in Department of Education (DepEd); Unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets; Involvement in extrajudicial killings (EJK); Destabilization, insurrection, and public disorder; and the totality of respondent's conduct as Vice President.

Some of these, if not all, are expected to be included in the fresh impeachment complaints to be filed against the lady official next week.

Ridon says the chamber is prepared to proceed under the Constitution and House rules while complying with the SC's clarified notice requirements on the so-called express route or "fast track" mode of impeachment filing.

“Iginagalang po namin ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa usapin po na ito. Pero nililinaw din po namin na pagdating Feb. 6, handa ang Kongreso na tanggapin at dinggin ang lahat ng bagong complaints laban kay VP Sara Duterte,” Ridon said.

(We respect the decision of the SC on this matter. But let me also make clear that by Feb. 6, Congress will be ready to receive and hear all new complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.)

The 19th Congress impeachment complaint against Duterte was pursued via the fast track mode in plenary.