Petition vs Sara Duterte’s impeachment not backed by VP, says lawyer
Vice President Sara Duterte, speaks to the members of the media and answer questions during Press Conference at OVP Central Office, Mandaluyong City on Friday, February 7, 2025. (Arnel Tacson, 黑料社)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte did not sponsor the filing a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) to stop her impeachment trial, a lawyer said on Tuesday.
“We would like to emphasize that this is our individual move, collective efforts on the part of us, individual petitioners and VP Sara has nothing to do with this,” Atty. Israelito Torreon, said in a press conference.
Torreon, who is also the legal counsel of detained senatorial candidate Apollo Quiboloy, is among the 29 petitioners.
Atty. Martin Delgra, Atty. James, Reserva, and Atty. Hillary Olga also took part in filing the petition.
When asked to describe the individuals who filed the petition, Torreon said that they are “individuals who love the vice president but that does not mean that Vice President Sara Duterte is sponsoring us.”
Article continues after this advertisementHe argued that as individuals who voted for Duterte as vice president in the 2022 elections, they have the right to question the ouster move.
Article continues after this advertisement“Because we voted for her, then it gives us the legal rep to question the present move to oust her and we are likewise citizens of this republic, we are part of this body politic any discomfort any nuisance any disturbances that may arise, arising out of this move also concerns us,” Torreon added.
He also said that the preparation for the impeachment trial will entail money from the public funds, therefore, as taxpayers, they “have the right to be involved and file this petition.”
Torreon, in a separate interview, said the complaint is “defective,” emphasizing that it “did not consider the three priorly filed impeachment complaints”; Duterte was not given due process; it did not follow the constitutionally-prescribed verification process.
The House of Representatives impeached the vice president on February 5, with 215 lawmakers voting in favor of the impeachment.
The lawmakers backing the complaint officially reached 240 after the session.
Among the articles of impeachment in the verified complaint sent to the Senate are betrayal of public trust, violating the 1987 Constitution, and graft and corruption.
