Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has expressed his firm belief that the Senate should no longer engage in debates over the Supreme Court’s recent decision halting the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the matter is effectively settled.
“Why debate it when the Supreme Court has already spoken?” Dela Rosa said Tuesday, adding, “I’m not a lawyer, but I believe that nobody is supreme or above the Supreme Court—except God.”
The Senate is set to vote Wednesday on whether to comply with the High Court’s unanimous ruling, which declared the impeachment case against Duterte unconstitutional due to the violation of the one-year ban on filing such cases.
While Dela Rosa emphasized that his stance is personal, he also acknowledged the authority of Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero in allowing a formal debate to hear opposing views on the ruling. Still, he made clear that, from his perspective, “the case is already closed.”
The Supreme Court’s decision comes after the House of Representatives, which had impeached Duterte with 215 votes on February 5, requested a reconsideration. Lawmakers argued that the judiciary should not interfere with Congress’ exclusive power to try impeachment cases.
The Senate convened as an impeachment court on June 10, where Dela Rosa initially sought to dismiss the case outright. His motion, however, was revised by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who proposed sending the case back to the House instead.
Now, as the Senate prepares to cast its vote, Dela Rosa said he is willing to hear out his colleagues but remains inclined to follow the Supreme Court’s directive. “I’m not overeager to move for dismissal,” he added.
