A GROUP OF lawyers closely identified with Vice President Sara Duterte went to the Supreme Court to file a petition seeking to stop the impeachment trial amid issues on the “constitutionality” of the senate rules and the designation of Sen. Francis Escudero as presiding officer.
In its manifestation, the lawyers’ group led by Atty. Israelito Torreon sought for a “status quo ante order or any appropriate relief” that would effectively restrain the Senate — acting as impeachment court, from continuing its trial.
“Petitioners thus respectfully submit that a temporary restraining order, status quo ante order, or other appropriate interim relief is warranted to ensure that the impeachment trial proceeds, if at all, only under Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials validly adopted and only under a presiding officer whose authority to preside is not under serious and unresolved constitutional challenge,” reads part of the group’s manifestation.
Torreon insisted that the validity of the June 3, 2026 proceedings directly affected the constitutionality of the trial.
He particularly cited the proceedings which led to the election of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as senate president, the amendments to the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials, and the designation of Escudero as presiding officer.
“Otherwise, constitutional review may be reduced to an after-the-fact pronouncement on proceedings that have already moved forward under a cloud of illegality,” the petitioners further argued.
The lawyers also cited the 1987 Constitution which explicitly provides that the Chief Justice presides when the President undergoes trial and for all other cases, it would be the Senate President who will preside.
Torreon noted that then Commissioner Hilario Davide withdrew his proposed amendment which expressly stated that in all other cases it would be the Senate President of the Senate who will preside.
“It was withdrawn because the Committee clarified that the text already carried that meaning: the Chief Justice presides only when the President is on trial; in all other impeachment cases, including the impeachment trial of the Vice President, the Senate President presides,” the petitioners emphasized.
