The Supreme Court yesterday asked the House of Representatives, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, and the Senate to comment on the petition filed by Vice President Sara Duterte against her impeachment case.
The court decided to ask the respondents to comment on the petition during its en banc session on Tuesday, said SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting.
"The SC required respondents House of Representatives, its Secretary General Reginald S. Velasco, and the Senate to comment on the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice," Ting said.
In her petition for certiorari and prohibition, the Vice President asked for a temporary restraining order against the Senate from holding her impeachment trial.
A TRO was not issued by the Supreme Court.
On the other hand, the SC did not act on the petition filed by lawyers and individuals from Mindanao, similar to the petition filed by Vice President Duterte.
The petition, led by lawyers Israelito Torreon and Martin Delgra, was discussed during the en banc session, but no action was taken.
"Yes, it was, but then the action was made, they are going to study whether this case should be consolidated or not," Ting said.
The petitions of VP Duterte and the Mindanaoan lawyers were both filed Tuesday last week, but the court only acted on Duterte's petition.
Rep. Jil Bongalon of the Ako Bicol party-list, a member of the House prosecution panel, said they have yet to receive a copy of the Supreme Court order.
Bongalon, though, said they will definitely comply with the directive of the Supreme Court.