Senator Sotto laments impeachment of VP Sara Duterte now 'an impossible dream'

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III expressed strong disappointment over the Supreme Court’s final ruling denying the House of Representatives’ appeal to overturn the July 25, 2025, decision that declared the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional.

The ruling effectively blocked any further attempt to pursue the complaint against the Vice President, while reaffirming the high court’s earlier position that the Senate did not acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings.

“It is a sad day for Constitutional Law students and professors. The Constitution had just been amended unconstitutionally through Supreme Court overreach,” Sotto said in a statement.

“It will take decades of retirements to correct this misinterpretation. When the law is clear, there is nothing to interpret, as any first-year law student knows,” he added.

Sotto criticized the decision as “a clear judicial legislation,” noting that the Supreme Court, in its ruling, “admitted to introducing a rule for Congress to follow in the conduct of impeachment.”

He described the move as “a clear encroachment on the power of the Legislative branch, as provided for by the Constitution.”

“Impeachment is now an impossible dream,” Sotto lamented.

The Supreme Court resolution, made public Thursday, unanimously ruled that the fourth impeachment complaint—which reached the Senate on February 5, 2025—was barred under Article XI, Section 3 (5) of the Constitution. The provision states that “no impeachment shall be initiated against the same person more than once within a period of one year.”

The SC also clarified provisions regarding the “initiation” of an impeachment complaint, rejecting the House of Representatives’ interpretation. According to the Court, session days should be counted as “calendar days” in which the House holds a session.

Sotto also stated in an interview that he is prepared to support constitutional amendments if a proposal is brought before the Senate.

Sotto criticized the Supreme Court’s ruling, calling it a form of judicial legislation. He said the Court had effectively changed the constitutional process for impeachment instead of following the procedure laid out in the Constitution, while also failing to address what he described as factual errors in the case.

He specifically took issue with the Court’s assertion that the Senate archived the impeachment complaint on February 5, 2025, noting that the case was actually archived in June of last year after Congress adjourned sine die.

“If this is how the Supreme Court acts, then it may be better to change the Constitution,” Sotto said, adding that he would support any initiative to amend it.

-Paraluman News