Bato backs SC ruling amid resolution pushing for VP impeachment

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Monday stood firm in defense of the Supreme Court’s decision declaring the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte “unconstitutional,” saying he will not sign any resolution that seeks to question the ruling.

“Hindi ako abogado pero marunong akong rumespeto at sumunod sa hatol ng Korte Suprema, kaya hindi niyo ako mapapapirma sa isang resolusyon na kumukwestyon nito (“I am not a lawyer, but I know how to respect and follow the rulings of the Supreme Court, so you will not get me to sign a resolution that questions it),” Dela Rosa told reporters, responding to a resolution filed by Senators Aquino, Hontiveros, Pangilinan, and Sotto urging the continuation of the impeachment despite the High Court’s verdict.

“I have no idea about that. If there’s any, I am not foolish enough to sign it.”

On 25 July, the Supreme Court en banc unanimously voted to declare the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte as unconstitutional, citing violations of the one-year bar rule, due process, and the right to a speedy disposition of cases.

The complaint had previously been the focus of Dela Rosa’s privilege speech delivered before the adjournment of the 19th Congress, in which he described the impeachment attempt as “constitutionally infirm.”

“Had the House complied with their own rules and the Constitution, the three previous impeachment complaints would have been referred to the appropriate Committee by the time the present impeachment complaint was filed and sponsored by the members of the House of Representatives,” Dela Rosa said. 

He added that the “intentional inaction” of the House allowed a circumvention of the one-year ban on filing multiple impeachment complaints, which is clearly stated in Article XI, Section 3, Paragraph 5 of the 1987 Constitution.

“Given the glaring circumvention of the Constitution, should we allow impeachment complaints that are constitutionally infirm to be heard and tried by this body? Hindi po ba mawawalan ng saysay ang pag-convene ng Senate as an impeachment court kung malinaw na labag sa Konstitusyon ang nais nating itayo?” (Wouldn’t the convening of the Senate as an impeachment court be rendered meaningless if what we intend to establish is clearly unconstitutional?)” Dela Rosa said. 

The senator’s remarks during his privilege speech played a key role in the Senate’s action to remand the Articles of Impeachment back to the House of Representatives.