Bam: SC reversing decision improbable but not impossible

Senator Bam Aquino on Wednesday emphasized that it would not be impossible for the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse its decision declaring the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte as unconstitutional. 

Aquino said this amid the heated discussion in the upper chamber whether to abide by the SC decision which blocked the impeachment trial of Duterte. 

“Nabanggit dito wag na tayong lumaban kasi matatalo naman tayo. Of course, Mr. President, it is improbable. Aaminin ko po ‘yan. Very improbable na magbago ang Korte Suprema with 15 votes, but it's not impossible. Improbable at impossible, magkaiba po ‘yan,” the senator said. 

(It was mentioned here that we should not question the SC decision anymore because we will lose. Of course, Mr. President, it is improbable. I admit that. It is very improbable for the Supreme Court to change its decision with 15 votes, but it's not impossible. Improbable and impossible are two different things.) 

“Tumayo tayo sa sarili nating paa, mag-assert tayo ng ating independence, ipaliwatin natin ‘yung ating saloobin bilang isang grupo. Ipakita natin na co-equal branch of government tayo na mayroon tayong punto de bista,” he added. 

(Let's stand on our own two feet, let's assert our independence, our stand as a group. Let's show that we are a co-equal branch of government that has its own point of view.) 

Aquino said that while the Senate will still respect the Supreme Court at the end, he underscored the importance of airing the upper chamber’s position, having the sole authority to try and decide impeachment cases. 

“Para sa akin, hindi katanggap-tanggap ang posisyon na dahil matatalo rin tayo, wag na tayong lumaban. Paminsan-minsan mahalaga na ilagay naman natin ang ating posisyon kahit alam natin na hindi pabor sa atin ang mga bagay-bagay,” he said. 

(For me, it is unacceptable to not fight just because we believe that we will lose. Sometimes, it is important to take our stand even if we know that things will not go in our favor.) 

Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, said that she will also respect the Supreme Court decision, but stressed that it would not mean that she will be silent. 

“I will not be choosing silence, nor will I be turning a blind eye, in the face of clear and unmistakable injustice,” she said.

Hontiveros earlier seconded the motion of Senate minority leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to table the motion of Senator Rodante Marcoleta to dismiss the impeachment complaint until the decision of the high court has attained finality. 

Voting 13-0-2, the SC earlier declared the articles of impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional, stressing that it is barred by the one-year rule under the Constitution and that it violates 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, through the Office of the Solicitor General, on Monday filed a motion for reconsideration, seeking to reverse the SC decision. The House argued it should be allowed to perform its exclusive duty to prosecute an impeachable official, and the Senate's to try the case. — BM, GMA Integrated News