VP Sara Duterte camp says appeal to stop impeachment not meant to avoid process

Vice President Sara Duterte’s petition to stop the impeachment proceedings against her at the House of Representatives is not about avoiding the process, her defense team said Wednesday.

In a statement confirming the filing, the vice president’s camp said the filing was made to seek clarity on constitutional questions.

“To be clear, this is not about avoiding the process,” her team said.

“This is about ensuring that the process itself complies with the Constitution. The House has the power to initiate impeachment, but that power is not without limits,” it added.

This came after Duterte filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court (SC)  dated March 30. 

She asked for a temporary restraining order against the House and the House Justice panel to stop them from proceeding with the impeachment hearings.

Duterte also sought a final injunction nullifying and setting aside the impeachment proceedings related to the Saballa and Cabrera complaints for being unconstitutional, and enjoining the House and the Senate from “doing any and all acts relative and pursuant thereto.”

Duterte’s team said it would refrain from discussing the details publicly out of respect for the High Court.

'Misleading'

Meanwhile, House public accounts committee chair and Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon defended the proceedings, alleging  that Duterte is “misleading” the SC and the public through her petition.

Ridon, a member of the House justice panel, claimed that the petition “is anchored on a misrepresentation of facts and a distorted interpretation of the Constitution and prevailing jurisprudence.”

“It is a clear attempt to mislead the Supreme Court and the public,” the lawmaker said in a statement, as he disputed claims that the impeachment complaints were not properly referred by the House in plenary.

“The official video footage of the February 23, 2026 plenary session, at 3:48 p.m., clearly shows that the referral of the four impeachment complaints was carried out by the House of Representatives in plenary, in accordance with Section 3(2), Article XI of the Constitution,” Ridon said.

READ: Impeachment proceedings vs. Vice-President Sara Duterte

— RSJ, GMA News