SENATE Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III expressed confidence that senators would not block the possible revival of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte if the Supreme Court reverses its earlier ruling, which declared the complaint unconstitutional.
Sotto made the statement after House of Representatives (HOR) prosecution panel spokesman Antonio Bucoy voiced concern over the case’s possible reinstatement, as most senators had earlier voted to archive it.
Last week, the Senate voted 19-4 to place the articles of impeachment in the archives following a Supreme Court decision striking down the complaint.
The ruling, however, is not yet final, as the House has filed a motion for reconsideration.
The impeachment case accused Duterte of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution. It was archived—not dismissed—pending the outcome of the court proceedings.
“If the SC reverses its ruling, it is logical to address the articles of impeachment,” Sotto said in a text message on Sunday, adding that the alternative would mean his colleagues “lied,” which he doubted.
Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson shared similar sentiments, stressing that senators should abide by whatever the high court ultimately decides.
“I’m hoping against hope they will respect the final ruling,” he told a radio program, noting that senators who voted to archive the case previously cited respect for the court’s authority.
Lacson abstained from the archiving vote, saying he wanted to avoid preempting the court’s decision.
He also pointed out that the Supreme Court ordered Duterte to respond to the House motion—a sign that the justices want to revisit the case on its merits.
For now, Lacson said, the impeachment complaint remains “dead” but could be revived from the archives if the high court rules in favor of the House motion, allowing it to undergo fresh debates and voting.