MANILA — A fresh legal challenge has emerged in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte after a group of lawyers led by Israelito Torreon asked the Supreme Court to intervene, arguing that the Senate may be conducting the trial under rules they believe are constitutionally flawed.
At the center of the petition is Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, whose authority to preside over the impeachment proceedings is being questioned by the group.
In a 16-page urgent motion filed before the high tribunal, the lawyers urged the Supreme Court to temporarily suspend the impeachment trial through a temporary restraining order or a status quo ante order while it reviews the legality of the Senate’s recent rule changes.
The petition challenges amendments adopted by the Senate on June 3 that allow senators to elect a presiding officer for impeachment proceedings. Torreon and his fellow petitioners argued that the Constitution designates the Senate President as the presiding officer in impeachment trials, except when the President is the one facing impeachment, in which case the Chief Justice assumes the role.
They also questioned the procedure used in approving the amendments, claiming the revisions were adopted without complying with required notice provisions and while the Senate was acting as a legislative body rather than sitting as an impeachment court.
According to the petitioners, altering the procedural framework after impeachment proceedings have already begun undermines the integrity of the tribunal itself. They warned that if Escudero’s authority is ultimately declared unconstitutional, every ruling and procedural action taken under his leadership could face legal uncertainty.
The latest filing adds another layer of legal complexity to the closely watched impeachment case, with the Supreme Court now being asked to determine whether the Senate’s revised impeachment rules—and the authority exercised under them—are consistent with the Constitution.
The petition was filed on Monday and disclosed publicly on Tuesday as the Senate continues preparations for the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President.
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