House to appeal SC ruling on impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives plans to file a motion for reconsideration on the Supreme Court’s ruling declaring as unconstitutional the Articles of Impeachment filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, Speaker Martin Romualdez said yesterday.

Romualdez maintained that the House respects the SC’s decision but they would also look for legal remedies.

“We are in the process of reading the decision of the Supreme Court but, of course, we shall respect the decision,” Romualdez told One News / TV 5 in an exclusive interview

“We shall also exhaust our remedies. We’ll also be preparing a motion for reconsideration (MR) within 15 days of our official receipt,” he added.

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Friday that the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte is unconstitutional and violated the one-year bar rule.

The one-year bar rule prohibits the filing of more than one impeachment complaint against the same official within a year.

Romualdez said he hopes for possible changes in the SC decision.

“We hope that there could be probably some refinements on the decision,” Romuadez said.

Romualdez also believed that the High Court may have adjusted its previous rulings, which the House followed during the process.

“I think they’re modifying the Gutierrez and the Francisco rulings, which actually we’re adhering to in the process. But nonetheless, we reserve that for the MR,” Romualdez said.