House tells Senate: Let SC decide on appeal before voting on VP Sara trial

The House of Representatives on Saturday warned against pushing through with the Senate vote on whether or not to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasizing that the lower chamber is set to appeal the Supreme Court's ruling on the issue.

In a statement, House spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante said the Supreme Court (SC) ruling that declared the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional is not yet final.

Having senator-judges vote on the matter of adherence to the ruling, Abante warned, may have consequences on the integrity of the House and the impeachment process itself.

"We call on our dear Senators to exercise prudence and patience, and to allow the judicial process to reach its rightful conclusion," Abante said.

She added, "The House remains committed to the rule of law and will exhaust all legal remedies to protect its constitutional mandate—and to ensure that accountability is not casually brushed aside."

House Spokes Atty Princess Abante on impeachment: We express deep concern over reports that the Senate may vote to act on the SC decision regarding the impeachment case against the VP w/o waiting for the House to exhaust its available legal remedies. @gmanews @gmanews pic.twitter.com/vuZS8pa4YQ

— Tina PanganibanPerez (@tinapperez) August 2, 2025

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, the presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court, earlier said the upper chamber is set to discuss the SC decision on August 6, Wednesday.

The House of Representatives' statement comes a day after Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said 19 to 20 senators are likely to adhere to the SC ruling.

"We express deep concern over reports that the Senate may vote to act on the Supreme Court decision regarding the impeachment case against the Vice President—without waiting for the House of Representatives to exhaust its available legal remedies," Abante said.

"Let us be clear: the decision of the Supreme Court is not yet final. The House of Representatives, as the body vested by the Constitution with the exclusive power and authority to initiate an impeachment, will file a Motion for Reconsideration soon. This is a matter of constitutional right and institutional integrity," she added.

Saying the high court's legal conclusion may have been arrived upon with "factual errors," Abante said "sheer prudence dictates that the Senate to allow the Supreme Court to hear the House in its Motion for Reconsideration."

"Any premature action-such as a Senate vote effectively abandoning the impeachment trial—may be interpreted as a disregard of due process. Worse, it may be construed as a political shortcut that undermines the constitutional role of the House," it said.

Voting 13-0-2, the SC last week declared the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional, stressing that these are barred by the one-year rule under the Constitution and that these violate her right to due process.

The high court said the Senate cannot acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings.

However, the SC said it is not absolving Duterte from any of the charges against her and that any subsequent impeachment complaint may be filed starting February 6, 2026.

The House of Representatives maintained the integrity of the impeachment process must be preserved.

"This is about protecting our democratic institutions and upholding the system of checks and balances embedded in our Constitution," Abante said.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros had said a draft resolution is being circulated containing former justices' advice on how the Senate may proceed after the Supreme Court ruling.

In a social media post on Saturday, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said he would not sign any resolution questioning the high tribunal's decision.

"Hindi ako abogado pero marunong akong rumespeto at sumunod sa hatol ng Korte Suprema kaya hindi ninyo ako mapapirma sa isang resolution na kumukwestyun nito," Dela Rosa said. 

(I'm not a lawyer but I know how to respect and follow the Supreme Court's ruling, so you can't make me sign a resolution questioning it.)

Also on Saturday, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) called for adherence to the high court's decision, saying that calls to defy the ruling "erode the very foundations of the legal order."

"Such actions disturb the equilibrium of powers and imperil the integrity of our democratic institutions, especially when appropriate legal remedies remain available within the framework of our constitutional system," the IBP said. 

"The Constitution does not require agreement. It demands adherence," it added. — VDV, GMA Integrated News