MANILA — Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will likely reject a petition seeking to stop the House of Representatives from continuing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Ito ay isang petisyon na, sa tingin ko, ibabasura ng Korte Suprema dahil wala namang ligal na personalidad itong mga abogado at alyado ng Pangalawang Pangulo na magsampa ng kasong ito,” Ridon told Super Radyo dzBB.
(“I believe the Supreme Court will dismiss this petition because these lawyers and allies of the Vice President have no legal personality to file this case.”)

Ridon explained that such petitions must have proper legal standing. He said filing as taxpayers is not sufficient because taxpayer suits concern public fund disbursement, while impeachment cases involve elected officials.

“Ang tanging pwedeng mag-challenge ng isang impeachment proceedings ay impeachable official katulad ng Pangalawang Pangulo,” he added.
(“The only one who can challenge impeachment proceedings is the impeachable official, such as the Vice President.”)

The petition, spanning 186 pages, asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order and declare that the House Committee on Justice gravely abused its discretion by sustaining the third and fourth impeachment complaints against Duterte. Petitioners argued the complaints lacked sufficiency in form and substance and should have been dismissed outright.

Ridon rejected these claims, saying the proceedings follow the 1987 Constitution and House Rules on Impeachment.

“Walang batayan ang sinasabi nila na ito ay isang malaking ‘fishing expedition,’ lalo’t higit may buong kapangyarihan ang Kongreso at komite na mag-isyu ng mga subpoena para magbigay ng paglilinaw sa mga paratang ng complainants natin,” he said.
(“There is no basis for their claim that this is a ‘fishing expedition,’ especially since Congress and its committee have full authority to issue subpoenas to clarify the allegations.”)

Vice President Duterte has declined to attend the hearings, calling them a “third fishing expedition” and saying she would rather focus on assisting Filipinos affected by rising fuel prices.

Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega II warned that Duterte’s trust ratings may fall further amid the ongoing proceedings.

“Tingin ko babagsak pa ‘yang trust ratings niya… ‘Yan ang nakatanim na sa isipan ng taong bayan, kaya ganyan kalawak ang distrust sa kanya,” Ortega said.
(“I think her trust ratings will drop further… That is already in the public’s mind, which is why distrust toward her is widespread.”)

Ortega cited a Pulse Asia survey showing 51.5% of respondents identified alleged corruption involvement as the main reason for distrust. He noted the survey was conducted before Duterte declined to attend the hearings and before the Supreme Court petition was filed.

Despite the pending Supreme Court challenge, the House Committee on Justice said it will continue its impeachment hearings.