4 senators sign reso on how Senate should proceed after SC ruling on impeachment

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said Thursday a draft resolution is being circulated containing former justices’ advice on how the Senate should proceed following the Supreme Court decision declaring the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte as unconstitutional. 

Hontiveros said that a total of four senators, including her, have signed the resolution as of Monday. She is hopeful that more senators will be signing the document. 

“Mayroong draft resolution, hindi joint resolution, pero resolution na tinatrabaho ng ilang mga senador kasama po ako,” she said in a press conference.

(There’s a draft resolution, not a joint resolution, but a resolution that some senators, including me, are working on.) 

“Draft pa rin siya sa ngayon eh, pero nagsa-cite po siya ng mga references sa ilang mga dating justices na nagbibigay ng payo, ilang mga gabay kung paano pwedeng mag-move forward,” she added. 

(It’s still a draft right now, but it is referenced to some former justices who gave advice and guidelines on how we should move forward.) 

Hontiveros said that this resolution will be used by some senators during the plenary session on August 6—-the date set by the upper chamber to discuss and decide on the SC decision, as announced by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero. 

The Senate President earlier shared his personal opinion on the matter, saying that the SC decision must be followed “otherwise, [there] will have a constitutional crisis, and our neighboring countries and other people might view us as a banana republic where we only follow what we want.”

For her part, Hontiveros believes that the impeachment trial should still push through despite the SC ruling unanimously that the articles of impeachment are barred by the one-year rule under Article XI Section 3 paragraph 5 of the Constitution.

“I'm always hopeful, lalo na sa ganitong mga pinaka-importanteng mga proseso na iniaatas sa Senado na may partikular na obligasyon,” she said. 

(I'm always hopeful, especially in these important processes that are being tasked to the Senate.) 

She also reiterated that she thinks that the impeachment court is still convened and will continue to be until evidence is presented in each article of impeachment. 

Hontiveros also said that it would be “premature” if the Senate would vote on a motion to dismiss the impeachment case of Duterte if not a piece of evidence has been presented yet. 

Asked if she will comply with the SC decision or not, the lady senator said, “Ang disposition ko…ay maghanap ng pagbabalanse o harmonization sa pagitan ng pag-respeto sa Korte Suprema, pagtaguyod sa mga responsibilidad namin bilang Senado, at pagtupad sa aming mga obligasyon sa ating mga mamamayan na nag-eexpect at tamang nag-eexpect sa amin ng pagtaguyod din sa accountability ng mga public officials.”

(My disposition is to find a balance or harmonization between respecting the Supreme Court, upholding our responsibilities in the Senate, and fulfilling our obligations to our citizens who rightly expect us to also uphold the accountability of public officials.) 

The House of Representatives is currently preparing to file a motion for reconsideration of the SC decision to void the impeachment of Duterte, arguing that the ruling was based on what it described as incorrect findings that contradict official records.

The SC decision is immediately executory but a motion for reconsideration may be filed.

The high court had also emphasized that it is not absolving Duterte from any of the charges against her, but any subsequent impeachment complaint may only be filed starting February 6, 2026. 

Escudero, for his part, said that he has yet to see the draft resolution, but emphasized that it has to be filed for the body’s consideration. 

“But with or without any such resolution, we already agreed in caucus to fix a date certain (Aug 6) to debate and act on this issue of impeachment in light of the recent SC decision,” the Senate President said.

According to Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, the four senators who have signed the resolution so far include him, Hontiveros, Senator Bam Aquino, and Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. 

“Others we have spoken to are reviewing it,” Pangilinan said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News