Philippine SC Dismisses VP Duterte Impeachment Challenge

The Philippine Supreme Court has dismissed legal challenges from Vice President Sara Duterte and her allies seeking to halt her impeachment, ruling the petitions moot as the Senate trial is already underway. The unanimous decision, issued by the court en banc on Wednesday, August 5, removes the final judicial obstacle to the historic proceedings.

The court stated that the House of Representatives' role in the process concluded when it transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate on May 13. With the Senate now convened as an impeachment court and the trial ongoing, any ruling on the legality of the House committee's earlier actions would have no practical effect. The justices declined to invoke exceptions to the mootness doctrine, finding none applicable despite the constitutional questions raised.

The consolidated petitions, filed separately in March and April by Duterte and a group of lawyers led by Israelito Torreon, had argued the House Committee on Justice exceeded its authority during preliminary hearings. They contended the committee improperly gathered evidence, compelled witnesses, and incorrectly found the impeachment complaints sufficient in form and...