Impeachment cannot be stopped by legal technicalities —House

The impeachment process should not be derailed by legal technicalities, the House of Representatives said Friday.

House spokesperson Princess Abante issued the statement in response to the Supreme Court decision declaring the impeachment complaint against the Vice President unconstitutional.

“The House of Representatives has yet to officially receive a copy of the Supreme Court’s decision. We will review it with the utmost respect once furnished. That said, we respect the Supreme Court. But our constitutional duty to uphold truth and accountability does not end here,” Abante said.

“Under Article 11, Section 3 of the Constitution, the exclusive power to initiate impeachment rests solely with the House of Representatives. [The] impeachment is a political act rooted in the people’s will—no legal technicality should silence it,” she added.

Abante said the House’s sole authority to initiate an impeachment complaint is firmly grounded on the [2003 Supreme Court decision] Francisco v. House of Representatives.

“The impeachment process is not just a legal mechanism—it is a vital democratic safeguard.  To allow judicial interference in the initiation of this process risks undermining the very principle of checks and balances,” Abante said.

“This is not about one person. Ito ay laban para sa karapatan ng taumbayan na maningil ng pananagutan sa gobyerno,” she added.

Further, Abante said that the House will exhaust all remedies to protect the independence of Congress and preserve the sanctity of its constitutional role.

“This is not defiance. This is constitutional fidelity. We owe it to the people to be relentless in our duty—because accountability should never be optional, no matter how high the office,” she added. 

'Accountability deferred'

Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan said the SC ruling "rests on procedural grounds and does not touch the merits of the allegations."

"Accountability in public service has not been denied—only deferred," said Libanan, one of the House prosecutors.

"This development should prompt the House to revisit and reinforce its internal rules and timelines governing impeachment. Clearer procedural safeguards will help ensure that the constitutional mechanisms for accountability are not only respected, but also effective and resilient in the face of political challenges. The High Court has reminded us that even in politically sensitive matters, due process must prevail," he added.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, another member of the House prosecution panel, said the SC decision is "a loss for the people."

“Sa desisyong ito, talo ang taumbayan. Talo ang pananagutan. Impeachment is about accountability,” he said.

Diokno, a human rights lawyer, then stressed that the House followed the Constitution in initiating the impeachment against the Vice President.

“The process followed the Constitution: the complaint was verified, endorsed by more than one-third of the House, at iisa lang ang kasong kinakaharap ni Vice President Sara Duterte. There was no violation of due process—only a demand to present the truth to the Filipino people,” Diokno added.—LDF, GMA Integrated News