SC asks House, Senate to comment on VP Sara suit vs. impeachment

Supreme Court (SC). (File Photo By Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday asked Congress to respond to a petition filed by Vice President Sara Duterte questioning the constitutionality of her impeachment.

“The SC required respondents House of Representatives, its Secretary General Reginald Velasco, and the Senate to comment on the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice,” SC spokesperson Camille Ting told reporters.

“There is no TRO (temporary restraining order) in the meantime,” Ting said.

Duterte filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition, with a prayer for a TRO, seeking to nullify the fourth impeachment complaint against her on Feb. 18.

She claimed the fourth impeachment complaint filed by 215 members of the House of Representatives on Feb. 5 violated the constitutional prohibition against more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official within a year.

Duterte also asked the high court to stop the Senate from proceeding with the impeachment trial.

The impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.