Senator Risa Hontiveros on Saturday expressed deep frustration and dismay over the recent Supreme Court decision voiding the Senate’s ability to convene as an impeachment court in a trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, calling the ruling a blow to democratic accountability and a potential threat to the system of checks and balances. 

“Nadi-disturb yung kaluluwa ko (My soul is disturbed),”  Hontiveros said in a strongly worded ambush interview with reporters. 

“Nakakadismaya talaga na may lumabas talagang ganong desisyon na hinahadlangan yung pagganap ng Senado ng tungkulin na solo sa aming inaatas ng Konstitusyon (It is truly disappointing that such a decision was issued—one that hinders the Senate from carrying out a duty that the Constitution assigns solely to us),” she added. 

The high court’s ruling questioned the validity of the impeachment proceedings against Duterte, citing what it claimed to be a violation of the “one-year bar rule.” But Hontiveros argued that only one complaint had been acted upon and transmitted by the House of Representatives to the Senate, consistent with constitutional guidelines.

“Parang ang dami pang idinagdag na requirements ng desisyon kahit para sa mga future impeachment trials (It’s as if the decision added so many new requirements, even for future impeachment trials),” she noted, expressing concern about the long-term implications of the decision on the Senate's constitutional mandate.

Injuring the process

While rumors of the decision had circulated prior to its release, Hontiveros admitted she had held out hope until the end that the court would not side against the impeachment process. 

“Kaya shocking talaga. And nakakasugat sa mga prosesong bukas, hindi lang sa mga institusyon ng gobyerno, nakakasugat sa mga prosesong bukas sa mamamayan para iwasto ang nakikitang mali o punuin yung nakikitang kulang (That’s why it was truly shocking. It injures not only the open processes within government institutions, but also those that are meant to be accessible to the people, processes that allow them to correct what they see as wrong or fill in what they see as lacking),” she said. 

In response to calls from some sectors to simply “wait for 2026” instead of pursuing the impeachment, Hontiveros was firm: “Wala namang naghihingi ng (No one is asking for) constitutional crisis. I'm afraid in fact, with all due respect, this kind of decision is one that makes us more insecure doon sa dapat ng estabilidad na ibinibigay ng konstitusyon (in the stability that the Constitution is supposed to provide).”

She warned that the ruling could set a dangerous precedent. 

“Lahat ng mga ayaw ng impeachment process, lahat ng ayaw ng pagsingil ng accountability (Everyone who opposes the impeachment process, everyone who resists being held accountable) will probably pick up lessons from this.”

Still hope for VP Duterte trial?

Asked whether there remains any hope for the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte this year, Hontiveros replied: “Laging may pag-asa. Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.”

She confirmed that discussions are ongoing among senators and legal experts, with some considering filing a motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court. 

“May mga wise na mga column at sulat na inilalabas, payo, kung paano pwede pa rin sa diwa ng pag-respeto sa Korte Suprema, pero pwede pa ring salbahin yung proseso ng impeachment na alang-alang hindi lang sa Senado, alang-alang sa mamamayan (There are thoughtful columns and letters being published, offering guidance on how, while respecting the Supreme Court, the impeachment process can still be preserved—not just for the sake of the Senate, but for the people),” She said.

Though she stopped short of naming colleagues, Hontiveros expressed confidence that a “significant number” of senators were similarly dismayed by the court’s ruling.

“Marami-rami kaming nadismaya din sa kahapon (Many were dismayed yesterday),” she said.

The SC’s decision comes amid increasing political tensions over the impeachment effort against the Vice President.