Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s outburst, expressing support for Charter change (Cha-cha) in response to the Supreme Court (SC) ruling that invalidated the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, drew little support.

Legislators aligned with the opposition in the House of Representatives expressed caution about Sotto’s proposal to tinker with the 1987 Constitution.

Senior deputy minority leader Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice rebuked the Cha-cha proposal, saying Congress, “with all its anomalies, has no moral authority to revise the Constitution as it smacks of a lot of vested interests.”

Erice said that any Cha-cha proposal was “ridiculous and suspicious… especially with the 2028 election just two years away.”

The Caloocan City solon said that a constitutional convention would still require the passage of an enabling law, election of delegates, and eventual ratification, “processes for which there is clearly no time.”

Erice said constitutional amendments proposed directly by Congress raise serious questions of moral authority, given controversies involving budget insertions and allegations of corruption against some lawmakers.

“Tito Sotto’s rant against the Supreme Court is much ado about nothing,” Erice added.

Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima expressed interest in the proposal for both chambers of Congress to discuss amending its rules of impeachment in light of the new SC decision.

De Lima supported the view that there was judicial overreach, in which the court intruded into the powers of other branches of government.

Magistrates of the Tribunal, however, denied intruding into the realm of the legislature, saying that the recent affirmation of an earlier decision merely reminded Congress to adhere to the requirements of the Constitution.

Peddling judicial legislation

De Lima insisted that “judicial legislation” sets a perilous precedent that weakens the separation of powers by transforming impeachment from a political safeguard into a judicially managed process, contrary to the design and spirit of the Constitution, and that addressing the crucial issue is of transcendental importance.

She expressed her being “open-minded” about Cha-cha depending on the scope.

Sotto earlier assailed the high court’s decision to uphold its July 2025 ruling declaring Duterte’s impeachment unconstitutional for violating the rule against initiating more than one impeachment case against the same official within the same year.

The senator said that with the SC decision, the only options were either to wait for the current set of justices to retire and be replaced by new members with a different mindset on constitutional issues related to impeachment, or to move ahead with Cha-cha.

De Lima, who is also chairperson of the opposition Liberal Party, said she was open only “if the goal is to clarify the provisions on impeachment and make self-executing the provision barring political dynasties, and amending economic provisions.”

She said that if the agenda is to pave the way for term extensions and remove term limits, remove the provision banning political dynasties, and dilute provisions on human rights and social justice, then she would definitely be against it.

House broaches tools vs SC

House Committee on Public Accounts chairperson Terry L. Ridon of Bicol Saro Partylist said the impeachment of justices and congressional oversight of the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF) remain among Congress’ constitutional powers to check the SC.

During a forum, the legislator said the House retains precise mechanisms to ensure accountability within the judiciary, even as the High Court enjoys judicial autonomy.

Members of the Supreme Court can be subject to impeachment proceedings.

Congress likewise retains oversight authority over judicial expenditures, particularly the use of the JDF.

Even if the SC actually enjoys judicial autonomy, Congress continues to possess the power to basically check particular expenditures of the judiciary, particularly their use of the Judicial Development Fund, according to the lawmaker.

Extent of congressional powers

Ridon issued the remarks as discussions continue on the scope of congressional powers following recent SC rulings affecting the impeachment process.

He stressed that these constitutional tools form part of the system of checks and balances embedded in the 1987 Constitution.

“I think that is something that Congress could undertake as part of the checks and balances of Congress to the judiciary,” Ridon said.

On the other hand, House Committee on Justice Vice Chairperson Joel R. Chua of Manila said at the same forum that the SC ruling on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte dealt only with procedural issues and left unresolved substantive allegations, including the Mary Grace Piattos issue.

Chua stressed that the High Court did not rule on the merits of the impeachment complaint.

“You know, the Supreme Court’s decision did not rule on the substance of the impeachment complaint,” Chua, chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, said.

Chua said the Court’s ruling did not address the core allegations raised in the complaint, leaving key issues unsettled.

Chua said it was inaccurate to claim that the substance of the case had already been passed upon, noting that only procedural questions were tackled, pointing out that impeachment complaints often gain support as proceedings unfold and evidence is examined.

The Supreme Court’s emphasis on an “expeditious” impeachment process rebounds on the High Court itself, the House Committee on Public Ridon said. The high bench has repeatedly stressed that impeachment should move swiftly, but the Constitution likewise imposes clear timelines on the judiciary.

“It may also be important to note that the Supreme Court appears deeply concerned about timelines, emphasizing that impeachment should be an expeditious process,” Ridon said.

“But we’d also like to bring the question back to the Supreme Court today,” he added.

The partylist solon said the Court should also examine its own record before lecturing Congress on speed and efficiency.