Supreme Court’s emphasis on an “expeditious” impeachment process should also apply to the High Court itself, House Committee on Public Accounts Chairman Terry L. Ridon said Saturday, citing long-pending cases that have remained unresolved beyond the 24-month constitutional period.
Ridon, a lawyer, said the Supreme Court has repeatedly stressed that impeachment proceedings should move swiftly, but noted that the Constitution likewise imposes clear timelines on the judiciary.
“Very important din po siguro tutal parang very concerned ang Korte Suprema sa usapin ng timelines, sinasabi po nila dahil impeachment should be an expeditious process,” Ridon said during the Saturday Media Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
“But we’d also like to bring the question back to the Supreme Court today,” he added.
The party-list lawmaker said the High Court should examine its own record before lecturing Congress on speed and efficiency.
“So ibig sabihin to speak it to Congress that impeachment is an expeditious matter, I think they should look at themselves as well on whether or not they are able to comply with this particular 24-month period to resolve cases within their court,” Ridon said.
He pointed to a self-executing provision of the 1987 Constitution requiring cases before the Supreme Court to be resolved within 24 months from the submission of briefs or memoranda.
“Isa po doon sa very clear, self-executing provision ng 1987 Constitution ay dapat ang mga kaso ng Korte Suprema ay dapat na-resolve within 24 months from the last submission of a brief and memoranda or similar documents,” he said.
Ridon also questioned whether the Court has consistently complied with this constitutional requirement, citing unresolved cases involving matters of public interest.
“Very important for the Supreme Court to also respond. Nagagawa ba nila ito?” Ridon asked. “Because I’m quite certain there’s several very high public interest cases, like ‘yung non-contact apprehension case. It has been pending with the Supreme Court for the longest time. It has not yet been resolved.”
Despite the High Court’s rulings on impeachment-related procedures, Ridon said Congress would continue to carry out its constitutional mandate.
“We will proceed with our mandate in the impeachment proceedings,” he said, stressing that House decisions would remain anchored on facts, evidence, and the conscience of each lawmaker.