VP Sara's defense team focuses now on response to House appeal

While the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte acknowledged the Senate’s decision to archive the impeachment case, it maintained that its “focus” is on responding to the Motion for Reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives.

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO, HANNAH TORREGOZA, and ELLSON QUISMORIO

“The Defense Team acknowledges the Senate’s decision to adhere to the Supreme Court ruling and archive the Articles of Impeachment,” lawyer Michael Poa said in a statement on Wednesday night, Aug. 6, after the Senate voted 19-4-1 to uphold the motion of Senator Rodante Marcoleta to archive the impeachment case. “Our focus now remains on submitting our comment, in compliance with the High Court’s order.”

Lawyers Israelito Torreon and Luna Acosta, who were among the petitioners who filed the case before the SC to block the impeachment, welcomed the Senate move to archive the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte.

“The Law Firm of Torreon and Partners, on behalf of the other petitioners, is also preparing its compliance to the SC’s order for comment within the allotted 10-day period,” Acosta said. “We also welcome the Senate’s decision and will wait for further developments.”

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Aug. 7, Acosta posted a photo of the legal team with Duterte during a thanksgiving celebration.

"We still have to file a comment to the Motion for Reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives, but we are confident in our legal arguments and believe that due process and the rule of law remain supreme above all. For the country's sake!" she wrote.

The motion seeks to reverse the earlier ruling of the Supreme Court to declare as unconstitutional the impeachment against Duterte, citing the one-year bar rule in the Constitution. The ruling also effectively strips the Senate impeachment court of its jurisdiction.

Senate stands by Constitution

Senate President Francis Escudero said the Senate is standing by the provisions of the Constitution and rule of law when it voted in favor of heeding the Supreme Court's decision on the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte.