Camille Naredo

Vice President Sara Duterte joins Former President and Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the 2025 KASARILAYAAN Pride Reception on Wednesday, June 25, at the LausGroup Event Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Vice President Sara Duterte joins Former President and Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the 2025 KASARILAYAAN Pride Reception on Wednesday, June 25, at the LausGroup Event Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga. 

The annual gathering brings together LGBTQIA+ community leaders, advocates, and allies to celebrate Pride Month and highlight ongoing efforts toward inclusivity, equality, and the empowerment of the LGBTQIA+ sector.
Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

PRIDE MONTH EVENT- VP Sara

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175422644565520250625-kasarilayaan-duterte-MT15.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Vice President Sara Duterte joins Former President and Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the 2025 KASARILAYAAN Pride Reception on Wednesday, June 25, at the LausGroup Event Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte joins Former President and Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the 2025 KASARILAYAAN Pride Reception on Wednesday, June 25, at the LausGroup Event Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Philippine Constitution Association (PHILCONSA) on Sunday appealed for the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling in the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte, warning that the decision imperils the balance of powers enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.</p><p>In a four-page statement signed by its chairman, former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, PHILCONSA said the High Court&#x27;s ruling must be reexamined for &quot;potential violations&quot; of constitutional principles, including the separation of powers and the exclusive authority of the Lower Chamber to initiate impeachment proceedings. </p><p>“Decisions of the Supreme Court that rearrange the particles of the principle of separation of power, redefine the limits of power of government or change the calculus of the balance of power between and among the three branches of our government demand their strictest scrutiny, for the slightest of error can bring about a tyrannicide that will incinerate our Constitution,” said PHILCONSA, a a non-profit civic organization dedicated to the defense and promotion of the Constitution.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/1/congress-constitutional-authority-over-impeachment-should-be-respected-up-law-faculty-1535"><strong>Congress&#x27; constitutional authority over impeachment should be respected: UP Law faculty</strong></a> </div><p>The organization noted that the Court ruled without the benefit of facts established by a trial court or reviewed by the Court of Appeals, relying instead on “dubious” and unverified reports. </p><p>“Hearsay evidence is forbidden in the search for truth for it denies due process to the prejudiced party,” the group said. </p><p>“We therefore urge the Supreme Court to review the salient facts it relied upon in its Decision to make sure the facts speak the truth, for only a Decision based on indubitable facts can stand time and its vicissitudes.”</p><p>On July 25, the Supreme Court -- in a unanimous decision -- <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/25/supreme-court-duterte-impeachment-articles-unconstitutional-1601">declared the articles of impeachment transmitted by the House of Representatives to the Senate as unconstitutional</a>.</p><p>The articles of impeachment violated the Constitutional provision against more than one impeachment complaints within a year against an impeachable official.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>7 NEW RULES</strong></div><p>PHILCONSA also expressed grave concern over the Court&#x27;s imposition of seven new rules for the House in handling impeachment cases, saying it violates the constitutional provision granting the legislative chamber exclusive authority to initiate impeachment. </p><p>“With due respect, we express grave concern on the imposition of these new seven rules, written by the Supreme Court itself for the House to comply with,” it said. “We submit that it violates Article XI (3) of the Constitution that provides: ‘The House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment,’” PHILCONSA said.</p><p>House members, as elected officials, are accountable to the people—not to the SC, said the group. It warned that allowing the judiciary to evaluate “sufficiency of evidence” and “reasonableness of time” infringes on legislative independence. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/1/citizen-complainants-file-motion-for-reconsideration-over-sc-ruling-on-duterte-impeachment-1837"><strong>Citizen complainants file motion for reconsideration over SC ruling on Duterte impeachment </strong></a> </div><p>“The Rules made by the Court, which gifted itself the power to determine the sufficiency of evidence and the reasonableness of time given to all members of the House to reach an independent decision, cannot but raise eyebrows,” said PHILCONSA. </p><p>“It tilted the balance of power in its favor. It runs counter to the advice that in interpreting the Constitution, the role of justices is to serve strictly as umpires. They should not act as pitchers or batters in favor of any party.” </p><p>The association also opposed the requirement that due process be given to a respondent during the House’s political initiation of an impeachment case, stressing that the proper forum for such guarantees is the trial in the Senate. </p><p>“The right of respondent to due process should be invoked in the Senate Impeachment Court when respondent goes to trial,” Philconsa pointed out. </p><p>“The trial stage is the legal component of the impeachment process. The familiar learning is that the right to be heard is satisfied when respondent is heard before any judgment is handed down. It need not necessarily be accorded before or at the start of the judicial proceedings.” </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/31/cenda-a-stands-by-remarks-vs-sc-ruling-on-vp-sara-impeachment-case-0049"><strong>Cendaña stands by remarks vs SC ruling on VP Sara impeachment case </strong></a> </div><p>Philconsa warned against judicial overreach and urged respect for constitutional boundaries. </p><p>“Our Constitution is based on democracy and not on the monocracy of any branch of government. It will endure only if we are able to preserve the pristine principles of separation of power, checks and balances, accountability of officials, a public office is a public trust and the sovereignty of the people from whom all powers of government emanate.”</p>

<p>The Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) strongly appealed for the Supreme Court to reconsider its controversial ruling in the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte, warning that the decision imperils the balance of powers enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. </p>

The Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) strongly appealed for the Supreme Court to reconsider its controversial ruling in the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte, warning that the decision imperils the balance of powers enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.

PHILCONSA warns SC's ruling on Duterte impeach case a 'threat' to constitutional balance

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PHILCONSA warns SC's ruling on Duterte impeach case a 'threat' to constitutional balance

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 03, 2025 09:15 PM PHT

|

Updated Aug 05, 2025 01:33 PM PHT

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Philconsa

Impeachment Case

Sara Duterte

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