Sen. Risa Hontiveros Speaks on Impeachment Case of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte
RISA HONTIVEROS – The Deputy Minority Leader confirmed her plan to block all motions seeking to dismiss Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Following the ruling of the Supreme Court that declared the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte “unconstitutional”, there are doubts and different sides as to whether or not the Senate should push through with the trial of the Vice President. The court found the impeachment complaint against Duterte violating the one-year rule in the Constitution.
According to the high court, an impeachment complaint may only be filed against the Vice President starting February 6, 2026. The Supreme Court also found that the Vice President was denied of her right to due process. The decision of the court was met by different reactions.
Previously, after the first caucus of the senators in the 20th Congress, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero announced that the Senate will decide on the ruling of the Supreme Court on the impeachment complaint against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte on August 6. Prior to the ruling, the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, ruled to return the impeachment articles against Duterte to the House of Representatives with an 18-5 voting.
YES
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Robin Padilla
- Bong Revilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
NO
- Koko Pimentel
- Risa Hontiveros
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Grace Poe
- Nancy Binay
According to Sen. Risa Hontiveros who was one of those who opposed the remand of Duterte’s impeachment to the House, there is allegedly no concept of return in the Constitution. However, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero maintained that the Senate impeachment court can decide on anything.
Ahead of the set date for the discussion of the Supreme Court ruling on the impeachment complaint against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Sen. Risa Hontiveros confirmed her plan to block all the motions that would seek to dismiss the Vice President’s impeachment trial. Based on a report on Inquirer, she stressed that she is ready for a debate about the matter if a motion is raised.
“If that happens, we would debate on it and I am ready, we in the minority are ready to fight for our arguments, our opinions and our vote regarding that,” the Senator said.
Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros believes that voting on any motion to dismiss the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte “is still premature”. Based on the report, she raised a question on what will be the basis of the dismissal if there are still no evidence presented.
However, previously, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also expressed his personal belief that there is allegedly no reason for the Senate not to follow the SC ruling on Duterte’s impeachment case. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also believes that it will be safer for the Senate to decide without convening as an impeachment court.