The legal defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling declaring as “unconstitutional” the Articles of Impeachment filed against her by the House of Representatives.
In a unanimous 13–0 vote, the Supreme Court ruled that the House violated a constitutional provision allowing only one impeachment complaint per year against an impeachable official.
In a statement led by Atty. Michael Poa, spokesperson of the Vice President’s defense team, the group expressed gratitude to the Court for what they described as upholding the legal process.
“The decision of the Honorable Court affirms what we had maintained from the outset – that the 4th impeachment complaint is constitutionally infirm,” the team said.
“This unanimous Decision has once again upheld the rule of law and reinforced the constitutional limits against abuse of the impeachment process.”
Despite the favorable ruling, the defense team emphasized their continued readiness to respond to the allegations at the appropriate time and venue.
Meanwhile, the partner law firm of the defense team, Torreon and Partners, also issued a statement praising the Supreme Court’s decision. The firm lauded the Court for its adherence to due process and the Constitution.
“We welcome and fully support the Court’s decision, which upholds the rule of law, protects the integrity of our democratic institutions, and reaffirms that indeed, the end does not justify the means,” the statement read.
Torreon and Partners is owned by Atty. Israelito Torreon, legal counsel of televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, a known ally of the Duterte family.