Constitutional expert and 1987 Constitution framer Atty. Christian Monsod has warned that dismissing the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte without a trial would violate the Philippine Constitution.
In an interview on Dobol B TV, Monsod stressed that the Senate has a constitutional duty to hear the case. “That’s not a hearing if they vote to dismiss it. They’d be violating their responsibility under the Charter,” he said, reacting to statements from Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and others who are drafting a resolution to junk the complaint.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero had earlier mentioned that the case may be deemed “functionally dismissed” if unresolved by the end of the 19th Congress on June 30. But Monsod countered that the Senate is a “continuing body,” meaning the trial can proceed in the 20th Congress with no legal interruptions.
He also noted that any move to halt or dismiss the impeachment could lead to a constitutional challenge before the Supreme Court due to abuse of discretion.
Monsod further called on Senators Escudero, Tolentino, and Dela Rosa to consider recusing themselves from the trial over possible conflicts of interest or perceived bias, asserting that senators must act with full impartiality in their role as impeachment judges.
The House impeached Duterte on February 5, transmitting the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate the same day. While the Senate initially scheduled trial proceedings for June 2, they have since postponed the presentation to June 11, citing legislative priorities.
Duterte is facing charges of betrayal of public trust, constitutional violations, graft, and other high crimes—all of which she has denied.