The House of Representatives, through the Office of the Solicitor General, filed a Motion for Reconsideration on Monday asking the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse its ruling on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case.
The House explained that it did not violate the constitutional one-year bar when it impeached the vice president in December last year.
“Respondents pray that the Honorable Court will reverse the immediately executory nature of its July 25, 2025, decision and, after due proceedings, reconsider the same and dismiss the petitions for lack of merit,” the House stated in its preliminary statement.
Last month, the SC En Banc ruled that the Articles of Impeachment against the vice president were barred by the one-year rule under the Constitution, which reason why the Senate could not acquire jurisdiction over the complaint and could not hold impeachment proceedings.
Apart from the one-year ban, the SC En Banc also found the impeachment complaint against the vice president violated her right to due process, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution.
In its preliminary statement, the House stated that it is not asking the SC to favor any one for political result.
“Indeed, there are no convictions or acquittals at play yet, as the Senate has not even begun to conduct the trial proper. It only asks that this Honorable Court allow Congress to perform the duties the Constitution asks of both its chambers-to initiate an impeachment proceeding for the House, and to try the same, for the Senate,” it said.
“The House asks this Honorable Court not to stand with a certain political faction or another, but to uphold the Constitution, which gives life to all the institutions of government, and with the people, who in turn, are the true sovereign, and to whom all accountability, trust, and power are owed,” the House added.
The House impeached the vice president on the grounds of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other crimes.
The defense team of the vice president has not yet issued any statement regarding this matter.
