MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel welcomed on Wednesday, September 30, the Supreme Court’s decision to throw out legal challenges against the Senate impeachment court’s vote-calculation rules, stating the move paves the way to conclude the three-month trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
According to the prosecutors, the dismissal allows the impeachment court to resume proceedings without further disruption and ultimately deliver a verdict based on the presented evidence.
Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon, a prosecution panel member, emphasized that the High Tribunal’s action provides clarity for the trial’s continuation:
“Malinaw ang direksyon: hayaan nating gawin ng Senate impeachment court ang trabaho nito at tapusin ang prosesong itinakda ng Konstitusyon. Ang mahalaga ngayon ay maipagpatuloy ang paglilitis hanggang sa paghatol—conviction man o acquittal.”
The Supreme Court dismissed separate petitions brought by former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez and Atty. Ernesto Francisco Jr. on procedural grounds, specifically citing prematurity and lack of legal standing.
Addressing the procedural dismissal, panel member and Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno noted that the prosecution had consistently maintained that elevated legal challenges were premature at this stage of the trial.
“Mas mabuti kung hintayin muna ang pinal na pasya ng impeachment court bago dumulog sa Korte Suprema,” Diokno stated.
Prosecution panel spokespersons Former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong affirmed that the ruling enables the team to focus on proving the articles of impeachment.
“We welcome the ruling of the SC. It will now allow the trial to proceed and for us to complete the presentation of our evidence,” Barbers said.
Barbers and Adiong maintained that the team’s core objective remains presenting evidence and examining witnesses to demonstrate to the senator-judges whether Vice President Duterte remains fit for public office.
Adiong added that the dismissal prevents unnecessary delays and keeps the tribunal focused on the factual merits of the case.
Critiquing the timing of the petitions, Ridon urged all parties to let the constitutional process run its course:
“Sa halip na ubusin ang panahon sa mga petisyong hahadlang sa paglilitis, mas makabubuting hayaang umusad ang proseso. Sayang ang papel, sayang ang mga puno. Ang paglilitis ay tuloy, at handa ang prosekusyon na patuloy na ilatag ang aming ebidensya.”
Ridon reiterated that the prosecution panel is prepared to finish presenting its arguments and leave the outcome entirely to the tribunal.
“Sa dulo, ang ebidensya ang dapat magsalita. Hayaan nating matapos ang paglilitis at hayaan nating magpasya ang Senate impeachment court batay sa ebidensyang nasa harap nito,” Ridon concluded.