Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Friday defended the constitutionality of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress strictly complied with the processes under the law based on its official timeline.
In a statement, Carpio warned of possible undesirable consequences should attempts to invalidate the complaints come to fruition in the highest tribunal, reflecting the concerns of legal experts.
The former magistrate said this scenario could “trigger a constitutional crisis, raising the specter of judicial overreach into what has long been regarded as the exclusive domain of Congress.”
Carpio noted that the overriding issue raised against the impeachment case was whether the House lawmakers, acting as members of the prosecution panel, violated a constitutional provision to resolve the matter within 10 session days.
“The House has manifested, both to the Senate and to the Supreme Court, that the House did not violate this provision of the Constitution,” the former justice added, citing the official legal position submitted to the Court.
Carpio pointed out that the first impeachment complaint was filed on December 2, 2024. With the House in recess from December 21, 2024, to January 12, 2025, and holding sessions only from Monday to Wednesday, the 10th session day landed within constitutional limits.
He explained that on that same 10th session day, the verified Resolution calling for the impeachment of VP Duterte—signed by more than one-third of all the members of the House—was formally submitted to the Secretary General, consistent with the rules governing impeachment.
The former justice also referenced the House’s reply to the Vice President’s answer before the Senate, which stated plainly: “The three prior complaints for impeachment were all referred to the plenary within 10 session days.”
“The Constitution was followed. The threshold was met. The process was legal and complete. That should be the end of it,” Carpio said.
The retired magistrate issued his statement as incumbent senators in the 20th Congress remain divided as to when they can reconvene as an impeachment court to finally begin its trial proper on the case.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives after consolidating four complaints on February 5, 2025, becoming the first vice president at risk of being ousted in public office. She is facing seven articles of impeachment for allegedly betraying public trust, among other charges.
Its progress was stalled in the Senate as half of its members went busy with the midterm elections and some senators filed motions that further delayed the proceedings.
In a decision released Friday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Duterte, declaring the impeachment case against her ‘unconstitutional,’ citing the defense’s argument that the House of Representatives violated the one-year ban on the ouster move.
