Senators Erwin Tulfo and Raffy Tulfo on Saturday expressed respect for the Supreme Court’s decision declaring the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte “unconstitutional,” while emphasizing the Senate’s vital role in upholding the Constitution.

In separate statements, the Tulfo brothers, both members of the Senate, acknowledged the High Court’s unanimous ruling, which cited the one-year bar rule under Article XI, Section 3, Paragraph 5 of the Constitution, as well as violations of due process outlined in the Bill of Rights.

Senator Erwin Tulfo said he had yet to review the full text of the decision but respected the SC’s interpretation of constitutional limits surrounding the impeachment process.

“I respect the ruling of the Supreme Court and its interpretation of the constitutional limits that guide the impeachment process,” he said.

However, he emphasized that the Senate has the sole constitutional authority to try and decide all cases of impeachment.

“If given the opportunity, I am prepared to discharge our solemn duty and allow the evidence to speak for itself,” he added.

“Ako ay handang makinig sa malinaw na ebidensya at sa tunay na tinig ng taumbayan.”

Erwin Tulfo also noted that the matter would likely be discussed when the Senate reconvenes on Monday, noting that it remains to be seen whether the chamber will abide by or challenge the High Court's decision.

“Nirerespeto ko po ang desisyon ng Supreme Court. I am sure na pag-uusapan namin ito sa Lunes sa Senado kung susundin ba o balewalain ang desisyong ito ng SC,” he said.

Meanwhile, Raffy Tulfo echoed a similar sentiment, saying that while he was ready to perform his constitutional duty as an impeachment court judge, he also acknowledged the Supreme Court’s authority to interpret the legality of government actions.

“While I have been ready to perform my Constitutional mandate as a judge in the impeachment court, I likewise respect the mandate of the Supreme Court to determine if certain actions or processes of the other branches of government went beyond or against the provisions of our Constitution,” he said in a separate statement. 

The SC’s decision effectively blocks the impeachment case against Duterte, which some lawmakers had pushed in response to her alleged misconduct. 

The High Court ruled that the filing of the complaint violated the constitutional ban on initiating more than one impeachment case against the same official within a year and failed to observe the basic rights of due process.

The ruling has sparked legal and political debate, particularly over the roles of the judiciary and the legislature in the impeachment process, with some lawmakers questioning whether the SC has overstepped into a domain constitutionally reserved for Congress.