Torreon, others file supplemental petition vs. VP Sara's impeachment

Lawyer Israelito Torreon and others on Wednesday filed a supplemental petition before the Supreme Court (SC) against the conduct of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a 45-page supplemental petition, the petitioners sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or writ of preliminary injunction to restrain the impeachment trial.

They also asked the SC to declare the articles of impeachment null and void.

Aside from Torreon, the other petitioners are Atty. Martin Delgra III, former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chief; Atty. James Reserva, Atty. Hillary Olga Reserva, and lawyer of Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. leader Jey Rence Quilario.

In an ambush interview, Torreon said they are questioning whether the impeachment complaint can cross over to the 20th Congress.

“That's one of the issues that we raised here. And we are of the firm belief that the same is not allowed. It is not in accordance with the principle of legislative discontinuity,” he said.

He said that all proceedings of the present Congress are terminated after the expiration of its term. The 19th Congress will end on June 30.

“And an impeachment case is a proceeding. So therefore, where the law does not distinguish, we should not distinguish,” he said. 

He also said that they will file a manifestation to update the SC of the developments in the House and the Senate regarding the case.

In February, Duterte already filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging the validity and constitutionality of the fourth impeachment complaint against her.

The respondents in the petition are the House of Representatives, represented by Speaker Martin Romualdez; the Senate, represented by Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero; and House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.

The petition seeks “judicial intervention from the High Court to uphold due process and raises serious legal and constitutional concerns” regarding the fourth impeachment complaint, according to the Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar law firm.

Meanwhile, 18 senators voted for the return of the articles of impeachment while five voted against it on Tuesday. The senators are asking the House to certify the non violation of the one-year ban on impeachment complaints.

Those who voted yes include Senate President Chiz Escudero, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Sen. Robin Padilla, Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, Sen. Imee Marcos, Sen. Cynthia Villar, Sen. Mark Villar, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. JV Ejercito, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., Sen. Joel Villanueva, Sen. Lito Lapid, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Raffy Tulfo, and Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The negative votes came from Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, Sen. Grace Poe, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, and Sen. Nancy Binay. —VAL, GMA Integrated News