Metro Manila, Philippines – Israelito Torreon and eight other lawyers have filed an urgent motion with the Supreme Court seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The group questioned the validity of the impeachment court after Sen. Chiz Escudero was elected presiding officer on the first day of the trial proceedings on Monday, July 6.
They referred to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s manifestation during the opening of the impeachment court. Citing the Constitution, the senator-judge argued that only the Senate president can preside over the impeachment court.
“Unless immediately restrained, the Impeachment Court will continue acting under rules and a presiding officer whose validity depends on proceedings already challenged as unconstitutional,” the petitioners said.
They also questioned the validity of Senate Resolution 48, adopted June 3, which amended the rules of procedure on impeachment trials to allow for the election of a presiding officer in impeachment cases not involving the President of the Philippines.
Torreon and his group added that the June 3 session lacked quorum, as only 12 senators were present. It was at this same session that the present lawmakers vacated all Senate seats and elected Win Gatchalian as Senate president pro tempore and acting Senate president amid the leadership gridlock.
This latest attempt to halt the impeachment reiterated the group’s earlier request in March, and Duterte’s own petition in April.
