Manila Rep. Joel Chua on Sunday expressed his respectful dissent from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) over its statement supporting the Supreme Court’s decision in Duterte v. House of Representatives, which voided the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Respectfully, I dissent with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines on its statement on the Supreme Court decision on Duterte v. House of Representatives,” Chua said in a statement. “I dissent because the Constitution is above Congress, the Executive, and the Judiciary.”
“The Supreme Court, being the ‘court of last resort,’ cannot supplant, expand, or add to the Constitution. Their latest decision on impeachment did supplant, expand, and add to what the Constitution so clearly provides,” he added.
Contrary to claims of procedural impropriety, Chua emphasized that the House of Representatives acted within its exclusive constitutional authority to advance the Articles of Impeachment.
“I understand where the IBP is coming from. In fact, I empathize. But we in the House have the exclusive power to advance Articles of Impeachment exactly as the Constitution provides. We did not act in disregard of due process,” he said.
“We acted according to the last legal resort available to the Filipino people when the highest and impeachable public officials violate the public trust,” the lawmaker added.
Chua leads the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability (Blue Ribbon), which investigated allegations of corruption against the vice president, including those allegedly committed during her tenure as Secretary of the Department of Education.
