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The legal team of Vice President Sara Duterte insists that her petition to stop impeachment proceedings in the House is meant to clarify constitutional issues, not to sidestep the process.
In a statement released Wednesday, Duterte’s camp said their goal is to ensure that the impeachment proceedings are conducted within the limits set by the Constitution.
“This petition is not an attempt to avoid scrutiny,” her team said. “It is about safeguarding that the impeachment process follows the constitutional framework. The House has impeachment powers, but these powers are not absolute.”
Duterte filed a certiorari petition with the Supreme Court on March 30, seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the impeachment hearings conducted by the House and its Justice Committee. She also requested a permanent injunction to annul proceedings tied to the Saballa and Cabrera complaints and prevent the House and Senate from engaging in related actions, citing constitutional violations.
Out of respect for the Supreme Court, Duterte’s lawyers said they would not publicly discuss details of the petition.
House Justice Panel member and Public Accounts Committee Chair Terry Ridon countered Duterte’s claims, asserting that the petition misleads both the High Court and the public. He maintained that the impeachment complaints were properly referred in plenary, referencing official video evidence from the February 23, 2026 session, consistent with Section 3(2), Article XI of the Constitution.
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