Ridon: SC ruling ends VP Duterte camp's 'propaganda' vs impeachment proceedings
At A Glance
- SC dismissal of petitions against Vice President Sara Duterte ends claims of illegality in the impeachment process, according to House prosecutor Terry Ridon.
- Ridon says the ongoing Senate impeachment trial is now the sole venue for truth and accountability, marking day 13 of proceedings.
- Duterte faces charges over alleged misuse of P612.5 million confidential funds, false asset declarations, unexplained wealth, and issuing death threats to President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (left), The Supreme Court (MANILA BULLETIN, Supreme Court website)
House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon says the Supreme Court (SC) has essentially ended all "propaganda" from Vice President Sara Duterte's camp as far as the supposed illegality of the impeachment process is concerned.
"Maraming salamat sa Korte Suprema sa pagbasura ng lahat ng mga petisyon laban sa impeachment ni Vice President Sara Duterte," Ridon said in a statement Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 6.
(Thank you to the SC for dismissing all petitions against the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.)
"Bunsod ng desisyong ito, tapos na ang lahat ng usapan patungkol sa mini-trial at fishing expedition na paulit-ulit na propaganda ng kampo ng Pangalawang Pangulo," he reckoned.
(Because of this decision, all discussions about the mini-trial and fishing expedition repeatedly used as propaganda by the Vice President’s camp are finished.)
According to Ridon, the ongoing Senate impeachment trial against the respondent, Duterte is now the "sole battle for truth and accountability".
"Mataas ang pagtitiwala namin na sa dulo ng labang ito, katotohanan, pananagutan at bayan ang magtatagumpay," the lawyer-legislator said.
(.We have high confidence that at the end of this fight, truth, accountability, and the nation will prevail.)
Wednesday marked day 13 of the Senate impeachment trial, which resulted from Duterte’s impeachment by the House of Representatives last May 11.
Before this, the House Committee on Justice held hearings wherein it found that two out of the four impeachment complaints filed against the Vice President this year were sufficient in both form and substance.
Vice President Duterte's conviction via impeachment trial is being sought over her offices' alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds; untruthful declarations in the filing of her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth; unexplained wealth; and death threats to President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.
Duterte was first impeached by the House on Feb. 5, 2025. However, she never formally underwent trial before senator-judges that year.
The SC ultimately declared the 2025 impeachment complaint against Duterte as unconstitutional due to a technicality.