House Speaker Martin Romualdez Asks Members To “Draw the Line” over Impeachment Issues
MARTIN ROMUALDEZ – The House Speaker asserted the “exclusive” duty of the chamber to initiate impeachment moves against government officials.
The Supreme Court has recently declared the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte as “unconstitutional”. According to the high court, the impeachment complaint versus the Vice President does not follow the one year ban rule in the Constitution.
Prior to it, amid the questions of the Senate, the House of Representatives previously certified that the impeachment of the Vice President followed the legal process and the law. The Vice President was impeached by the lower chamber in February with House Speaker Martin Romualdez as the chief of the chamber. Four (4) impeachment complaints were filed against her in 2024.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Atty. Israelito Torreon, and several others filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking for the dismissal of the impeachment case against the Vice President. The recent move of the high court was in response to the petition filed but it also clarified that its decision does not mean that the case is dismissed.
The camp of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte welcomed the Supreme Court ruling over the impeachment articles. They also maintained that they remain prepared to address the allegations against the Vice President in the proper time and forum.
However, the decision of the court did not sit well with many people. Former Senator and now Mamamayang Liberal party-list Representative Leila de Lima questioned the procedure in the Supreme Court ruling of Duterte’s impeachment case. She stressed that the court allegedly decided without letting the respondents, the House of Representatives, to file a formal comment.
In the 20th Congress, House Speaker Martin Romualdez remains as the chief of the lower chamber. Recently, the presidential cousin and House Speaker urged the members of the House to “draw [the] line”.
Based on a report on Inquirer, House Speaker Martin Romualdez asserted that the House of Representatives has the “exclusive” duty to initiate impeachment. He recognized the decision of the Supreme Court but stressed that the House will not just accept it and let go of the case.
“Let me say this with the utmost respect: The Supreme Court has spoken, and we recognize its decision. But let it never be said that the House of the People bowed in silence,” the House Speaker said.
Furthermore, based on the report, House Speaker Martin Romualdez expressed that the Supreme Court “may close a case, but it cannot close a cause. The pursuit of accountability is not a moment—it is a mandate”.
Previously, the House of Representatives said it will push through with its mandate despite the SC ruling on Duterte’s impeachment articles.