MANILA — House Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chairperson and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre called on the public to maintain confidence in the impeachment process despite legal questions arising from the ongoing Senate leadership dispute.

In a statement, Acidre said the situation highlights the constitutional design of separate and independent branches of government.

“Filipinos should not lose confidence in the impeachment process. Our institutions are designed precisely for moments like this. The Supreme Court can resolve legal questions, the Senate can conduct the trial, and the Filipino people can finally hear the evidence and judge for themselves whether their trust remains deserved,” he said.

Acidre acknowledged that public concern is expected whenever constitutional bodies become involved in legal disagreements, but stressed that a petition filed before the Supreme Court concerns Senate leadership and not the impeachment proceedings themselves.

“The petition concerns the leadership row in the Senate, not the impeachment process itself,” Acidre said.

Former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and several allies have asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the Senate leadership dispute, seeking a status quo ante order that would restore the chamber’s leadership structure prior to June 3.

In an 87-page petition, they urged the High Court to nullify recent leadership changes, arguing that intervention is needed to prevent what they described as “mob rule” and to stabilize Senate operations.

Acidre said the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte remains independent of the Senate dispute and continues to stand.

“The case against the Vice President did not originate from the Senate dispute. We should not confuse legal disagreement with constitutional paralysis,” he said.

“The impeachment process remains on track unless the Supreme Court says otherwise.”

Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun of Zambales echoed Acidre’s position, saying the Supreme Court petition does not automatically halt or delay the impeachment proceedings.

“We understand why some Filipinos are worried. Whenever there is a legal challenge involving the Senate, people naturally ask whether the impeachment trial will be delayed,” Khonghun said.

He urged the public to allow constitutional processes to proceed and for institutions to fulfill their mandates under the law.

Khonghun added that unless the Supreme Court issues a contrary order, the Senate impeachment court remains obligated to proceed with the trial.