THE House of Representatives has expressed its respect for the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to halt the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte but warned that the ruling jeopardizes the crucial principle of checks and balances within the government.
House spokesperson Princess Abante stated on Friday that the chamber will review the SC decision upon receiving a copy but maintained that initiating impeachment proceedings is the exclusive right of the House. Abante emphasized that judicial interference in this process undermines the constitutional framework designed to ensure accountability.
Abante cited Article XI, Section 3 of the Constitution, which explicitly grants the House of Representatives the sole power to initiate impeachment proceedings, a principle upheld in previous Supreme Court cases.
She argued that allowing judicial intervention in this process weakens the system of checks and balances and disregards the will of the people. The House spokesperson asserted that the chamber will utilize all available legal avenues to protect Congress’s independence and its constitutional role in holding government officials accountable.
The SC’s ruling, which cited a one-year rule barring multiple impeachment complaints against a sitting official within a single year, halted the impeachment proceedings initiated against Vice President Duterte last February 5th.
While the House maintains that it acted within the constitutionally mandated timeframe for processing the impeachment complaint, the SC’s decision underscores the ongoing tension between the legislative and judicial branches regarding the impeachment process.
The House’s statement highlights its commitment to upholding its constitutional responsibilities and its determination to defend the integrity of the impeachment process.
