SC Asked: Hold Oral Arguments on Impeach Ruling

A political coalition and allied groups have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to order a pause on proceedings related to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and have her case subjected to oral arguments.

- By DAPHNE GALVEZ

The petitioners, led by 1Sambayan, filed a 52-page motion for the issuance of a status quo ante order that would allow them to intervene, including through filing of a motion asking the high court to reconsider its decision declaring the impeachment case against Duterte as unconstitutional.

A status quo ante order is intended to maintain the last, actual, peaceable and uncontested state of things which preceded the controversy, according to the SC.

The filing of the motion was done a day before the Senate is expected to decide whether it would abide by the high court’s ruling and junk a trial.

“It is judicially wise for this Honorable Court to grant a status quo ante order that prevents the Senate of the Philippines from taking concrete action such as to dismiss the Articles of Impeachment, considering the pending constitutional issues that have yet to be resolved by this Honorable Court,” the motion read.