Has the Supreme Court (SC) effectively killed the "fast-track" mode of impeachment? Senior Deputy Majority Leader Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor doesn't think so.

In fact he is adamant that it should remain at the disposal of members of the House of Representatives, where the impeachment of impeachable officers is initiated.

“The fast mode stays, it cannot be removed because it is embodied clearly in the provisions of the Constitution,” Defensor told House reporters in an interview Monday, Feb. 2.

"Malinaw ang wording ng ating Constitution (It is clearly worded in our Constitution) that if at least one-third of all members of the House of Representatives--just like what we did--endorsed an impeachment complaint, it should go directly to Senate for trial forthwith,” the lawyer-solon reckoned.

Defensor was was referring to the events of Feb.5, 2025 when some 215 House members signed and then adopted in plenary an impeachment complaint--including the articles of impeachment--against Vice President Duterte.

It can be recalled that no Senate impeachment trial took place at all; while the SC, acting on a petition from the Vice President's camp, struck down the complaint on the issue of constitutionality on July 25, 2025.

This was upheld in an SC En Banc ruling Thursday, Jan. 29, which denied the House's motion for reconsideration (MR).

In its decision, the high court suggested that the House observe additional steps under this fast-track mode. Defensor rejected this.

“Hindi dapat sana nagbigay pa ng ibang suhestiyon ang ating [SC] bagamat iginagalang natin ang ating justices, maintindihan naman nila ang aming disagreement with their decision,” he said.

(The SC should not have given any further suggestions, although we respect our justices, they surely understand our disagreement with their decision.)

“Ang sabi ng [SC] kahit ‘di naman nila ni-lay down as a doctrine in that decision, it was a mere suggestion na baka pwedeng idaan din sa Committee on Justice kahit endorsed ng at least one-third of all the members of Congress. Pero sinusunod namin ang Constitution," Defensor said.

(The SC said that even if they did not lay it down as doctrine in that decision, it was a mere suggestion that perhaps the complaint could also be referred to the Committee on Justice, even if endorsed by at least one‑third of all the members of Congress. But we are following the Constitution.)

Defensor underscored, "Ang Constitution ang pinakamataas na batas, ito ang Saligang Batas ng ating bansa (The Constitution is our highest law, this is the basis of all laws in our country)."

He says that due process shifts to the Senate once the House transmits the impeachment complaint--even one that could theoretically be found defective by the SC.

"Whatever it is that's defective in that complaint, if it is endorsed by at least one-third of all the members of Congress, it is the Senate Impeachment Court that will decide the fate of that impeachment complaint," he explained.

While affirming respect for the high court, Defensor said the House would proceed according to constitutional design.

“So I hope we can respect the separation of powers and go back again to the doctrine that an impeachment is a political question to be decided by the people in their sovereign capacity or those which are fully delegated to the executive and legislative departments, which include the members of Congress and the Senate,” the ranking solon said.