The camp of Sara Duterte has once again turned to the Supreme Court of the Philippines in a bid to stop ongoing impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives of the Philippines.
Law firm Torreon & Partners filed a petition on Friday requesting the court to issue a temporary restraining order and nullify the proceedings being conducted by the House Committee on Justice. The petition argues that lawmakers committed grave abuse of discretion by declaring two complaints against the vice president sufficient in form, substance, and grounds.
Lawyer Israelito Torreon, a long-time ally of Duterte, said the complaints are “constitutionally and procedurally defective” and should be dismissed outright. He also criticised the scope of the committee’s investigation, claiming that legislators were engaging in broad evidence-gathering beyond the issues raised in the complaints. Subpoenas have reportedly been issued for asset records and corporate documents not directly cited in the filings.
The petition echoes Duterte’s earlier legal submissions, which described the inquiry as a “fishing expedition” that violates her right to due process. Her legal team argues that the committee’s actions go beyond its authority and risk undermining constitutional protections.
This is not the first time Duterte has sought judicial relief. In 2025, she successfully halted an earlier impeachment attempt after the Supreme Court issued a restraining order and later ruled the complaints unconstitutional on technical grounds.
However, legal experts and advocacy groups have criticised the latest move. National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers president Ephraim Cortez described the petition as “frivolous” and accused Duterte’s camp of using delaying tactics.
Cortez said the House Committee on Justice is following established rules in its proceedings, including conducting hearings to determine probable cause. He added that the Supreme Court itself has previously affirmed the House’s authority to set and implement its own impeachment procedures.
“Clearly, contrary to the claim of Sara Duterte, the Justice Committee has the authority to conduct hearings to determine probable cause. And due process requires that such a hearing be held to allow the parties to present their arguments,” Cortez said.
He noted that the use of subpoenas, witness testimony, and documentary evidence is part of standard procedure in impeachment cases. “Bank records will be subpoenaed, documents will be presented, and witnesses will testify. All of these will prove that she indeed committed impeachable offenses,” he added.
The Supreme Court’s response to the petition could determine whether the impeachment process moves forward or faces another delay. The case highlights ongoing tensions between the executive and legislative branches, as well as the role of the judiciary in resolving constitutional disputes.
