MANILA — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday questioned the Senate’s decision to archive the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the move preempted an ongoing Supreme Court case and undermined the House’s constitutional mandate.

“Yesterday, the Senate—not sitting as an impeachment court—moved swiftly to archive the complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, despite the case still pending before the Supreme Court,” Romualdez said in a statement.

“To archive is, in effect, to bury the Articles of Impeachment. Yet the ruling of the Supreme Court is not final,” he said, noting that the House filed a Motion for Reconsideration on August 5 and that the High Court required the respondents, including the Vice President, to submit their comment.

“Why the rush?” he asked.

Romualdez stressed that under the Constitution, only the House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate impeachment, and that the process had been followed lawfully and in good faith.

“We exercised that power lawfully, transparently, and in good faith—not out of spite, but out of duty. Not to attack, but to ask for answers—answers the Vice President never gave,” he said.

The Speaker explained that more than one-third of House members signed the verified complaint, triggering the automatic transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment without need for committee referral or further plenary action.

“This was never about political maneuvering. It was about accountability—pananagutan—anchored on verified facts and sworn documents,” he said.

He also criticized efforts to paint the House’s action as politically motivated.

“Yet we have been met with personal attacks, sweeping accusations, and a narrative that seeks to reduce a solemn constitutional duty into mere power play. That’s not just unfair—it is dangerous. It undermines public trust in the very tools of democratic checks and balances,” he said.

Romualdez reiterated that the filing of the complaint was not rushed, but its dismissal was.

“The filing of the complaint was not rushed. What was rushed—remarkably—was its burial,” he said.

“This moment will be remembered. And when it is, we hope it will be said: That the House stood its ground. That we honored our constitutional duty. That we acted not for ourselves, but for the Filipino people.”

“We do not rise against the Senate. We rise for the Republic. Tuloy ang laban. For the Constitution. For the rule of law. And for the enduring truth that no public office is ever beyond the reach of accountability,” Romualdez said.