Senator Villar favors SC decision in VP Duterte's impeachment case

Senator Mark Villar stood firmly in defense of the Philippine Constitution on the Senate floor, explaining his vote against proceeding with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, following a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court (SC). (Video courtesy of Senate of the Philippines)

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/08/senator-villar-favors-sc-decision-in-vp-dutertes-impeachment-case

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Transcript

00:00Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to vote yes and explain my vote on the matter before us

00:06and to explain why we compromised today on archiving this very important topic.

00:18But of course, we must always remember that the status quo is that the Senate has no jurisdiction.

00:25So in legal speak, this complaint is null and void.

00:31Last July 25, the Supreme Court rendered a unanimous decision declaring the articles of impeachment

00:36against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional, noting that it is barred by the one-year rule under the Constitution

00:44and that it violates due process.

00:47The merits of this decision are not an issue at issue before us.

00:51The sole question we need to answer is whether the Senate should respect the decision of the Supreme Court.

00:58And I say clearly and emphatically, yes.

01:03The Supreme Court has the ultimate authority to interpret what the Constitution is.

01:09No one, including the Senate, can substitute its opinion over the courts in any matter concerning the Constitution.

01:16And the Constitution itself, in Article 8, Section 1, entrenches the Court's role in interpreting the Constitution

01:24and determining whether there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction

01:33by any branch or instrumentality of the government.

01:37This includes the Senate, even with acting as an impeachment tribunal.

01:43Justice Laurel laid down the doctrine in the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of constitutional issues

01:51in Angara versus Electoral Tribunal, where it was stated that

01:55when the judiciary meditates, mediates, to allocate constitutional boundaries,

02:02it does not assert any superiority over the other departments.

02:08It does not in reality nullify or invalidate an act of the legislature,

02:14but only asserts the solemn and sacred obligation assigned to it by the Constitution

02:19to determine conflicting claims of authority under the Constitution.

02:26At dahil nagdesisyon na po ang Korte Suprema, tungkulin po ng Senado na sundin ang disisyon na ito.

02:34Sumasangayon man tayo o hindi, dahil nangako tayo, bawat isa sa ating mga Senador,

02:39that we will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines,

02:45that we commit to obeying all laws and legal orders issued by the duly constituted authorities,

02:53na sa oath of office po natin ito.

02:56In staying true to our oath of office,

02:58we must abide by the order of the duly constituted authority

03:02in matters of the Constitution, the Supreme Court.

03:06We must uphold the Constitution.

03:09Thus, the Senate cannot acquire jurisdiction to proceed with the trial,

03:14much less issue a verdict.

03:18Tulad ng sabi ni Senior Associate Justice Leonin,

03:21the impeachment process is a constitutional process,

03:25and although it is also a political process,

03:28it is not isolated from the requirements of the Constitution as a whole.

03:33Kailangan obserbahan ang due process,

03:37ang tama at makatarungang proseso,

03:40bago matanggal sa posisyon ang isang individual.

03:45Habang iginagalang natin ang opinion at pananaw ng bawat isa sa mga importanteng usapin,

03:53kailangan natin igalang,

03:55kilalanin,

03:56at bigyang halaga

03:57ang kakayahan at kaalaman ng mga maestrado ng kataas-taasang hukuman

04:03na binigyan ng kapangyarihan ng ating konstitusyon

04:07bilang huling hukom

04:09na ipaliwanag kung ano ang batas at kahulugan nito

04:13at magdesisyon ng pinal sa isyong ukol sa konstitusyon.

04:17By recognizing the authority of the Supreme Court on the matter,

04:22the Senate does not abandon its mandate and its wisdom

04:25as an independent political body,

04:28nor does it concede or submit to a co-equal branch of the government.

04:35We are simply upholding the rule of law.

04:37At kung susuway tayo sa desisyon ng Supreme Court

04:42sa isang isyong konstitusyonal,

04:45binabaliwala natin ang konstitusyon.

04:48Ito ay magdudulot ng isang krisis

04:50sa ating saligang batas

04:52at lipunan na hindi makakabuti para sa taong bayan.

04:57As a functional society governed by the rule of law,

05:01we must accord our democratic institutions with respect,

05:05value their guidance,

05:06recognize their competence

05:08and cherish their independence.

05:12Mr. President,

05:14pinapatunayan ang desisyon na ito

05:16na makakaasa ang tao na ang due process

05:18ay hindi lang guni-guni

05:20o kasabihan walang katuturan.

05:23Na ang due process

05:24ay para sa lahat

05:25at hindi lang para sa mga kakampi.

05:29Isang patunay na mapabisi presidente man

05:31o ordinaryong Pilipino,

05:34makakasigurado tayo

05:36na ang mga institusyon,

05:38ang Korte Suprema,

05:39at ang Senado

05:40ay handang ipagtanggol,

05:43pahalagahan,

05:44at bantayan

05:45ang ating mga karapatan.

05:48Without the rule of law,

05:50people may act without accountability,

05:53government leaders may act on personal interest,

05:55individual rights can no longer be guaranteed.

05:59Without the rule of law,

06:01there can be no justice,

06:03no order,

06:04and no real democracy.

06:05To end,

06:06I would like to quote

06:07Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Leonen,

06:10who penned the decision.

06:12There is a right way

06:14to do the right thing

06:16at the right time.

06:19This is what the rule of just law means.

06:22This is what fairness

06:24or due process of law means

06:26even for impeachment.

06:28Maraming salamat po.

06:42Dr. Maraming salamat po.

06:58Dr. Maraming salamat po.

Senator Villar favors SC decision in VP Duterte's impeachment case

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