Rody among VP Sara’s lawyers in SC petition

Former president Rodrigo Duterte was one of the lawyers for Vice President Sara Duterte who signed as legal counsel in her petition before the Supreme Court seeking to stop her impeachment trial.

The patriarch inked the Vice President's 36-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, along with five other lawyers. The petition was filed with the high court on Tuesday, February 18.

Sara, who was impeached by the House of Representatives earlier this month, appealed to the SC to issue a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction to "enjoin all the respondents from proceeding with the impeachment trial before the Senate, and to desist from doing any and all acts relative and pursuant thereto."

After proper proceedings, the Vice President also asked the high court to issue a final injunction, nullify, and set aside the fourth impeachment complaint against her, invoking a one-year ban.

Under the Constitution, no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a year.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint.

The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate the same day, but the upper chamber adjourned without tackling the impeachment case.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said Duterte's impeachment trial would most likely start after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 21 July under the 20th Congress.

The SC en banc last Tuesday directed the Senate to comment on the petition seeking to compel the upper chamber to immediately begin the Vice President's impeachment trial.