Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Erin Tañada

Victoria Tulad

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/1754640340040GxzYHOLbsAAmbD7.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Liberal Party acting president Erin Tañada, lawyer and host Fred Mison, and Kiko Aquino-Dee of Tindig Pilipinas discuss the Supreme Court decision on Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment at The Agenda Forum in San Juan City on Aug.8. 2025. <em>Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Amid public backlash over the Supreme Court decision that the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte are unconstitutional, former congressman Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, acting president of the Liberal Party, said citizens can file an impeachment complaint against members of the Supreme Court.</p><p>Tañada stressed that he and the LP are not advocating the action but that is an option available to citizens.</p><p>He made the remark when asked at The Agenda forum in San Juan City what people can do if they see the Supreme Court decision is in itself seen as unconstitutional.</p><p>“The answer to that question would be to file an impeachment complaint against the Supreme Court and then cite the grounds if they feel that there is a violation on Article XI that can be considered culpable violation of the Constitution,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;If not, we can go down to the pinaka-lower rank, betrayal of public trust for not upholding Article XI.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/8/makabayan-others-formally-ask-sc-to-reconsider-vp-sara-impeachment-ruling-1504"><strong>Makabayan, others formally ask SC to reconsider VP Sara impeachment ruling<br/></strong></a></div><p>Article XI is on the Accountability of Public Officers, which lays down impeachment procedure. </p><p>Tañada said he does not believe filing an impeachment complaint against Supreme Court justices would lead to a constitutional crisis, saying it has been done before.</p><p>“Like I said I’m not advocating it but it does not stop any citizen — as it is mentioned in Article XI — from doing so. Now the key here is that will there be a member of the House that would endorse the impeachment complaint?”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TINDIG PILIPINAS WILL WAIT FOR FINAL SC RULING</strong></div><p>Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor Francis “Kiko” Aquino Dee, one of the complainants in the first impeachment complaint, said the group is withholding comment until the Supreme Court rules on motions for reconsideration on its decision.</p><p>He said the SC&#x27;s decision would show whether impeachment is an effective mechanism for accountability “[not just from] VP Sara Duterte, but from any public official, any impeachable official.”</p><p>Aquino-Dee hopes the Supreme Court will reconsider its decision and the conditions it set. </p><p>“The Supreme Court now should take a pause . And really maybe call for an oral argument and ventilate the factual allegations in the decision that seemed to be not the right facts that actually happened,” Tañasa said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/10/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-in-limbo-after-senate-returns-case-to-house-expert-0727"><strong>Sara Duterte impeachment trial ‘in limbo’ after Senate returns case to House: expert<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT DOES &#x27;ARCHIVED&#x27; MEAN?<br/></strong></div><p>Aquino-Dee said he also wants to know what &quot;archiving&quot; the impeachment case, which the Senate voted to do on Wednesday, really means.</p><p>For Tañada, archiving does not mean the Articles of Impeachment are dead. They have only been shelved, he said.</p><p>”Kung mayroong mangyari na makakaapekto sa kaso na nilagay sa vault o nilagay sa library, puwede nilang ilabas uli,” he said. </p><p>(If there are developments that affect the case put in the vault or library, the Senate can bring it out again)</p><p>He also argued that &quot;it should have been the impeachment court that should have archived the case, not the Senate exercising its legislative function.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SILENT PROTEST </strong></div><p>Aquino-Dee, meanwhile, apologized for making a thumbs down sign during the August 6 session of the Senate, but maintained their call for accountability. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/6/guests-asked-to-leave-senate-session-hall-after-making-thumbs-down-sign-during-impeachment-vote-2243"><strong>Some guests thumb down ‘disappointing’ impeachment vote at Senate<br/></strong></a></div><p>“Kung pasok po sa mga ipinagbabawal sa Senado yung pag-thumbs down, eh di sige, pagpasensiyahan niyo na po ako, first time ko po doon,” Dee remarked. </p><p>(If doing a thumbs down gesture is not allowed in the Senate, then I am sorry. It was my first time there)</p><p>He said, though, that he was able to express his sentiments on the voting and that the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms had respected his right to do so.</p><p>He said that if people feel that institutions have failed them, they have the right to express that.</p><p>“What we call for [at] Tindig is peaceful resistance, civil disobedience but within the framework of the 1987 Constitution, pero sa tingin ko kung yun ang damdamin ng mga tao, dapat marinig po yan ng mga nasa poder (but I think those in power should now how we feel).”</p>

<p>“Like I said I’m not advocating it but it does not stop any citizen — as it is mentioned in Article XI — from doing so. Now the key here is that will there be a member of the House that would endorse the impeachment complaint?” LP acting president Erin Tañada said.</p>

“Like I said I’m not advocating it but it does not stop any citizen — as it is mentioned in Article XI — from doing so. Now the key here is that will there be a member of the House that would endorse the impeachment complaint?” LP acting president Erin Tañada said.

LP not advocating impeachment over ‘unconstitutional’ SC ruling but it is an option

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LP not advocating impeachment over ‘unconstitutional’ SC ruling but it is an option

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 08, 2025 04:17 PM PHT

Read More:

Supreme Court

Impeachment

Erin Tañada

Liberal Party

Kiko Aquino-Dee

Tindig Pilipinas

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