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The Supreme Court (SC) "gifted itself" undue power when it imposed new rules for the initiation of impeachment proceedings in declaring as unconstitutional the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, the Philippine Constitution Association Foundation Inc. (PhilConSa) has observed.

- By Daphne Galvez

In a statement signed by PhilConSa chairperson and former chief justice Reynato Puno, the group expressed grave concern over the imposition of seven new rules in impeachment proceedings, set by the SC for compliance by the House of Representatives.

The statement issued over the weekend said the new rules gave the SC powers "that can deprive the House of its exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment," thereby violating Article XI (3) of the Constitution.

It noted that the requirement that the draft Articles of Impeachment should be accompanied by sufficient evidence and there should be reasonable time wherein members of the House could decide whether or not to endorse the complaint could be used by the impeached official to raise the matter to the SC.

These requirements, Puno said, subsequently gave the SC the power to determine the sufficiency of evidence and reasonableness of time given to all members of the House to reach an independent decision.

“It tilted the balance of power in its favor. It runs counter to the advice that in interpreting the Constitution, the role of justices is to serve strictly as umpires. They should not act as pitchers or batters in favor of any party,” the statement declared.