Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Senators engaged in rigorous deliberation on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, weighing constitutional precedents and procedural safeguards during Wednesday’s plenary session, August 6, 2025.

 Joseph B. Vidal/OSP

Article (news)

SENATE- IMPEACHMENT VOTE- SC DECISION

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<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/1754547604725cropped-20250806-senate-impeachment-vote-OSP.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senators engaged in rigorous deliberation on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, weighing constitutional precedents and procedural safeguards during Wednesday’s plenary session, August 6, 2025. Joseph B. Vidal/OSP</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE)</strong> — House lawmakers on Thursday denounced the decision of the Senate to archive the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte—and particularly took exception to remarks made by Sen. Imee Marcos during Wednesday&#x27;s voting.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/6/senators-voting-on-marcoleta-motion-to-archive-sara-duterte-impeachment-1906">Senate archives Sara Duterte impeachment case</a></div><p>The Senate voted by an overwhelming majority to archive the impeachment case of Duterte, adhering to the decision of the Supreme Court that blocked her trial.</p><p>Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano earlier explained that sending the impeachment complaint to the archives means that it is considered dead, but could be revived should the Supreme Court reverse its ruling. </p><p>Lawmakers of the House of Representatives, where the impeachment complaint originated, said the Senate should face the consequences of its action.</p><p>“Let’s not twist the narrative. The House did its job, and we followed the process. Kung may dapat magpaliwanag ngayon, hindi ang Kamara kundi ang Senado. You can’t defend one branch of government by attacking another,” Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/6/filipinos-loss-if-senate-votes-to-dismiss-vp-sara-impeachment-house-spox-1305">Filipinos&#x27; &#x27;loss&#x27; if Senate votes to dismiss VP Sara impeachment: House spox</a></div><p>The lawmaker also pointed out that the Senate’s move to archive the complaint &quot;does not resolve the controversy, nor does it erase the public’s demand for a full explanation.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Deflection is not accountability. The Senate must deal with the fallout brought about by their own decision,” he said.</p><p>Deputy Speaker and Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun meanwhile defended the House’s handling of the impeachment process, saying it went through proper deliberations.</p><p>“We don’t play fast and loose with the rules. Hindi ito parang padalos-dalos na desisyon,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/7/speaker-romualdez-questions-senate-s-rushed-burial-of-vp-sara-impeachment-1403">Speaker Romualdez questions Senate&#x27;s &#x27;rushed burial&#x27; of VP Sara impeachment</a></div><p>ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima called the Senate’s decision “disconcerting” especially as the SC&#x27;s ruling on blocking the trial was &quot;not yet final.&quot;</p><p>“Hindi na naman nga po ako nakatulog. Hindi po namin maintindihan kung bakit pinili nilang i-archive instead of just pending na muna,” De Lima said.</p><p>The lawmaker added said the senators would have waited for the SC to fully decide with finality of the case if they “truly respected the process.” </p><p>“Umaasa pa rin kami kahit maraming nagsasabi, wala nang pag-asa daw ‘yun dahil unanimous. No. Puwede pa basta seryosohin ‘yung pag-aral ng mga argumento na nilahad sa mga motions for reconsideration,” De Lima said.</p><p>Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, for his part, called the Senate&#x27;s move &quot;embarrassing, with the upper chamber proving itself to be a &quot;Duterte Senate.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Nakakahiya ang desisyon ng Senado patungkol sa impeachment complaint laban sa Bise Presidente. They chose to surrender their independence and willfully abandon their Constitutional mandate. Today, the Senate decided to become a Duterte Senate,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;DANGEROUS STATEMENTS&#x27;</strong></div><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/1754547531542marcos-romualdez.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Imee Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>During the Senate&#x27;s session on Thursday, Sen. Marcos cast her vote in favor of archiving the impeachment case against Duterte, and branded its proponent a &quot;spoiled bonjing,&quot; allegedly using the process as a political weapon.</p><p>She also suggested that House lawmakers should just replace Speaker Martin Romualdez, instead of moving to oust an elected leader.</p><p>&quot;Sa mga mahal kong kongresista, may suggestion po ako... Kaysa inaatupag ninyong palitan ang pinili ng taumbayan, binoto at minahal, bakit di niyo na lang palitan ang taong kayo naman lang ang pumili? Ano kaya kung ang Speaker niyo na lang ang palitan niyo?&quot; she said. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D4KnF9gwF38?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><br/></div><p>The lawmakers called out Sen. Marcos remark, as they defended Romualdez from criticism.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/7/who-is-mary-grace-piattos-questions-linger-as-senate-archives-impeachment-vs-sara-duterte-0923">Who is Mary Grace Piattos? Questions linger as Senate archives impeachment vs Sara Duterte</a></div><p>&quot;Strong statements may grab headlines, but they do little to uphold the dignity of our institutions... We must not allow a legitimate constitutional process like impeachment to be dragged into a political circus,&quot; Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V said.</p><p>The solons emphasized that Romualdez simply carried out his role as presiding officer of the chamber and did not dictate how the lawmakers should vote.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/26/sc-ruling-on-vp-sara-impeachment-lets-officials-skirt-accountability-activist-groups-1111">SC ruling on VP Sara impeachment lets officials skirt accountability — activist groups</a></div><p>“These are dangerous statements that cross a line. Tama na ang parinigan o intrigahan. Alam naman nating lahat na this is about accountability, not ambition. The Speaker presided over a constitutional process, not a political operation,” Acidre stressed.</p><p>“Calls for his removal overlook that fact and risk personalizing what is, at its core, a constitutional process. Let us set aside divisiveness and stand by the rule of law,” Ortega said.</p><p>The lawmakers also cautioned Sen. Marcos from her &quot;borderline interference&quot; in the affairs of a separate chamber.</p><p>“What was said was not just a personal opinion. It became a public provocation. And when a senator calls for the ouster of the House Speaker, that’s not just political noise anymore, it becomes borderline interference,” Khonghun said.</p><p>“Let me be clear: no senator, regardless of stature or history, has the right to dictate who should lead the House. That decision rests solely with the elected members of this chamber, and Speaker Romualdez continues to enjoy our overwhelming confidence,” Senior Deputy Speaker Jay-jay Suarez said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/1/19-to-20-senators-may-vote-to-affirm-sc-ruling-on-vp-sara-impeachment-jinggoy-0939"> 19 to 20 senators may vote to &#x27;abide by&#x27; SC ruling on VP Sara impeachment: Jinggoy</a></div><p>The 19th Congress House of Representatives led by Romualdez initiated the impeachment proceedings against Duterte, after 215 congressmen signed a complaint against her. </p><p>But the Supreme Court nullified the articles of impeachment, saying it violated the one-year ban and the due process requirements of the Constitution. </p><p>The House still has a pending motion for reconsideration before the High Court, but the Senate voted to adhere to the “immediately executory”, but not yet final SC ruling.<strong> — With reports from Agatha Gregorio and Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3_TWR0717hc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oIVVbyEg7TE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>House lawmakers took exception to remarks made by Sen. Imee Marcos when she voted in favor of archiving the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.</p>

House lawmakers took exception to remarks made by Sen. Imee Marcos when she voted in favor of archiving the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Lawmakers blast Senate archiving of VP impeachment, Imee's 'bonjing' remark

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Lawmakers blast Senate archiving of VP impeachment, Imee's 'bonjing' remark

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 07, 2025 12:04 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 07, 2025 02:30 PM PHT

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