With no TRO, there’s no stopping VP impeachment hearing —Ridon

Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon on Saturday said the impeachment hearings against Vice President Sara Duterte will proceed since the Supreme Court (SC) did not issue a temporary restraining order (TRO).

“Wala na pong makakapigil sa pagdinig pong ito… Nagkaroon po ng ikatlong petisyon kahapon, pero ito po ay pag-uulit lamang ng mga original points ng [Atty. Israelito] Torreon complaint. So, ang sinasabi nga po natin, parang nagsasayang ng papel, ito pong mga abogado,” Ridon, a member of the House Committee on Justice, said at a news forum in Quezon City.

(There is nothing that can stop this hearing… There was a third petition yesterday, but this is just a repetition of the original points of [Atty. Israelito] Torreon’s complaint. So, what we are saying is, it seems like these lawyers are wasting paper.)

On Wednesday, the high court did not issue a temporary restraining order ahead of the resumption of the House justice committee hearing on April 14.

However, the high court directed the House justice committee to respond to the consolidated petitions filed by Duterte and several lawyers. 

“Dahil hindi po naglabas ng temporary restraining order ang Korte Suprema at nag-order lamang po na magbigay ng komento, ang House of Representatives…ay magpapatuloy ang mga pagdinig na magsisimula po sa April 14," explained Ridon.

("Because the Supreme Court did not issue a temporary restraining order and only ordered a comment, the House of Representatives...will continue the hearings starting on April 14.)

"So, inaasahan po natin na lahat po ng mga na-subpoena ng mga tao, personalidad, mga dokumento, ebidensya ay maisasalang po sa araw po na iyon. So kasama po rito yung pong pagsalang kay Ramil Madriaga,” he added.

(We expect that all the subpoenaed people, personalities, documents, and evidence will be presented on that day. This includes the presentation of Ramil Madriaga.)

Thi first petition for a TRO to the SC was filed on March 27 by lawyers Israelito Torreon, Vic Rodriguez, Rescie Angelli Rizada-Nolasco, Martin Delgra III, Wendel Avisado, James Patrick Bondoc, Raul Lambino, Luna Maria Acosta-Manlitoc, Jesus Hinlo Jr., and Dr. Richard Mata.

Duterte then filed a separate petition three days later on March 30.

In her petition for certiorari, the Vice President argued that the House justice panel’s proceedings are unconstitutional and that it has no power to conduct a trial.

Duterte is facing impeachment cases over the following acts:

• alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential fund and using them as bribes 
• threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and his family, including her desire to remove the head of the Chief Executive and 
• alleged accumulation of unexplained wealth

Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.

The House justice panel already found the two complaints sufficient in form, substance, and in grounds.

The panel is currently deliberating on whether there is probable cause to impeach the Vice President. —VAL, GMA News