Bato backs SC ruling on impeachment

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

“I’m not a lawyer, but I know how to respect and abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling — that’s why you won’t get me to sign a resolution that questions it,” Dela Rosa told reporters in Filipino, reacting to the resolution filed by Senators Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan and Vicente Sotto urging the convening of the impeachment court despite the SC ruling.

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

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

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