MANILA, Philippines – Nanawagan sina Senador Risa Hontiveros, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, at Bam Aquino nitong Lunes, Hulyo 28 sa Korte Suprema na irekonsidera nito ang desisyon sa pagdedeklarang ang Articles of Impeachment laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte ay unconstitutional.
Hindi sang-ayon ang tatlong senador sa desisyon ng SC na nagsasabing kulang ng hurisdiksyon ang Senado sa impeachment proceedings dahil ang reklamo ay idineklarang null at void.
“Congress, acting in good faith and following prevailing jurisprudence, followed the law in initiating and transmitting the complaint. To retroactively apply a new definition of what it means to ‘initiate’ an impeachment case—after the fact—can be likened to changing the rules in the middle of the game. It is unfair,” saad sa joint statement ng tatlong senador.
Sa botong 13-0, sinabi ng SC na ang Articles of Impeachment laban kay Duterte ay sakop ng one-year rule.
Nakitaan din umano ng paglabag sa due process ang articles.
Ang desisyon ng SC ay immediately executory, ngunit maaaring maghain ng motion for reconsideration.
Dahil dito ay humiling sina Hontiveros, Pangilinan, at Aquino sa Korte Suprema na irekonsidera at i-apply ang Fairness Principle, na nagsasabing “that retroactive application of new legal interpretations should not harm those who relied in good faith on old ones.”
Hiniling din ng mga senador sa SC na ipanindigan ang Doctrine of Operative Fact, na kumikilala na “that actions already taken under a prior, valid interpretation should be recognized as legally effective.”
“In doing so, the Court would not be undermining its power of review, but rather giving full effect to all branches of government, consistent with the doctrine established in Civil Liberties Union vs. Executive Secretary—that no constitutional provision should be read in a way that negates another. The powers of the Court, the House of Representatives, and the Senate must all be given proper and balanced effect,” dagdag pa ng mga senador.
“We did not swear an oath only to protect positions by way of technicalities. We swore to protect the Constitution—and the right of every Filipino to demand truth and justice. If we allow this precedent to stand, we risk silencing the very process meant to keep power in check.” RNT/JGC
