In the aftermath of the archiving by the Senate of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte came a plethora of statements from various quarters that can only be categorized as “useless.” Or in the words of the Gen X’ers and Gen Alpha, “mema” (me masabi lang).

One was the President once again saying, in India at that, “the impeachment does not involve me.” Not that he hasn’t said it before, dozens of times, in fact. But to say it again when nobody asked sounds too defensive, considering that it was his son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, who was the first to sign the impeachment articles.

Earlier, he said the Supreme Court’s junking of the impeachment complaint did not absolve the Vice President of the corruption allegations. Which is exactly what the High Court’s ruling said, in so many pages. He then added, “(t)he Supreme Court has decided, and like I’ve said, that’s it.” Of course. He swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and all the laws of the land. This includes rulings of the Supreme Court.

Close on the heels of those idle presidential pronouncements, the House — not to be outdone -– pontificated that it would abide by the High Court’s decision on the motion for reconsideration. But of course, they should! All the members of the House took the same oath as the President, so help them God. Violate that and they not only transgress their solemn oath, but God might smite them dead.

The House prosecution panel spokesman, one Antonio Bucoy, said the House will not cause a constitutional crisis. This after some House members stubbornly insisted the impeachment trial should continue and threatened the Justices of the Highest Court with impeachment. A better example of doublespeak cannot be found.

Adding to the circulating drivel was Sen. Tito Sotto, questioning the unanimous nature of the decision. It was not unanimous, he said, since one took no part and one abstained. He must have learned his vocabulary at Wanbol University and/or Iskul Bukol. At any rate, we can’t tell if that was another one of his “knock knock” jokes — with a bad punchline.

Kiko Pangilinan also could not help adding his voice to his uncle-in-law’s punchline, calling the archiving “tepid” and even calling it “disrespectful of a co-equal,” since there was still a motion for reconsideration. Which part of “immediately executory” did Pangilinan not understand? Verily, the man is proof of the proverb that not all lawyers are created equal.

Worst was Risa Hontiveros who, playing lawyer, powerfully posited the view — on the Senate floor no less — that the Supreme Court had, on some occasions, reversed a unanimous ruling. Only to be bitch-slapped by the comely Supreme Court spokesperson who corrected her by saying the cases Hontiveros cited were NOT unanimous or reversed.

There is a saying that it is better to be quiet and be thought a fool, rather than speak and confirm it. Such useless statements could have been very well avoided had those concerned thought it more advantageous to use fewer statements.