Statement of Malacañang on the SC Ruling over the Impeachment Complaint vs. VP Sara Duterte
Malacañang reiterated its respect on the ruling of the Supreme Court over the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte but that does not necessarily agree with the verdict.
The Supreme Court declared the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte “unconstitutional”. According to the high court, the impeachment complaint against the Vice President does not comply to the one-year ban rule in the Constitution.
The decision of the Supreme Court gathered different reactions from the Filipino people. The senators and incoming new and returning members of the Senate also have mixed reactions on the ruling of the high court.
The camp of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte welcomed the ruling of the Supreme Court on the impeachment case against her but stressed that they remain prepared to address the allegations. Based on a report on Inquirer, the House of Representatives which is the respondent in the case plans to file a motion for reconsideration on the ruling of the Supreme Court.
For several times, Malacañang stressed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos will not intervene in the impeachment process against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The Chief Executive himself also claimed during his podcast interview that he has no role in the impeachment process of the second-highest official in the government.
Recently, Malacañang spoke anew on the decision of the Supreme Court over the impeachment articles against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Palace press officer undersecretary Claire T. Castro reaffirmed the respect of the Palace on the decision of the high court but also claimed that believing that the decision is correct is a different matter.
“Siyempre alam naman natin kung sino ang final arbiter kundi ang Supreme Court, iba kasi yung nire-respeto mo ang desisyon ng Supreme Court iba naman yung pinaniniwalaan mo ba kung tama ba yung desisyon ng Supreme Court, magkaiba yun di ba,” the Malacañang press officer told DZMM Teleradyo.
The ruling of the Supreme Court came a few days before the Senate is expected to open the 20th Congress and begin the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte after a week. According to Malacañang press officer Atty. Claire Castro, there are really instances when the high court would appear not following the past jurisprudence but when it speaks, there are no other options but to respect its ruling.
“So may pagkakataon masasabi natin na ‘Uy, mukhang mali ang Supreme Court dito dahil mukhang hindi nasunod yung mga dating jurisprudence.’ Pero kapag nagsalita ang Supreme Court wala tayong magagawa kundi irespeto ito,” she expressed.
Amid the different opinions on the ruling of the high court, an expert on Constitutional law claimed that the Senate may proceed with the impeachment trial of Duterte despite the SC ruling. Several senators and incoming lawmakers in the Senate also want the trial to push through.