The Supreme Court has dismissed multiple petitions challenging the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, affirming that the Senate holds exclusive authority over the trial phase, according to Inquirer.net.
In a ruling reported Thursday, the High Court rejected arguments from Duterte's camp and a separate petitioner who sought to block the House of Representatives' impeachment process. The decision confirms that the Senate is the only body constitutionally empowered to conduct the trial, the news outlet reported.
The petitions were thrown out on grounds of mootness, meaning the issues they raised had already been resolved by the time the Court reviewed them, as detailed by Manila Bulletin. Rappler separately noted that the Court dismissed both Duterte's petition and one filed by Representative Torreon against the House proceedings.
The Manila Times reported that the ruling also undermines the Vice President's narrative that the House impeachment process amounted to a "mini-trial" or a "fishing expedition." The Court's decision effectively validates the lower chamber's actions as within its constitutional remit.
This development follows the House's earlier vote to impeach Duterte, which triggered the Senate's role as the trial court. The Court's ruling removes a key legal obstacle that could have delayed or derailed the proceedings.
With the legal challenges now cleared, attention shifts to the Senate, which must now organize itself as an impeachment tribunal. The timeline for the trial and the specific rules of procedure will be determined by the upper chamber in the coming weeks.
