After the privilege speech of Deputy Majority Leader Senator Rodante Marcoleta during today's Senate session on August 6, Senate Minority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III obstructed Senator Marcoleta's motion to dismiss the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
UPDATE: Nag-mosyon si Sen. Rodante Marcoleta na i-dismiss ang impeachment complaint laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte. | DZRH News pic.twitter.com/a36cjRKMKm
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) August 6, 2025
In his speech, Senator Marcoleta urged his colleagues to dismiss the case regarding Duterte's appeal of the Supreme Court's decision that deemed it unconstitutional. However, Senator Sotto disagreed, stating that the Supreme Court's decision should not be regarded as impossible. He reminded the Senate to remain steadfast and consider their decisions carefully.
“May kasabihan po tayo, ang tumatakbo ng matulin kung matinig ay malalim. Kaya dapat siguro pag-isipan muna natin kung tama ba bago mag-desisyon ang Supreme Court, basta ibasura na natin ang kaso na ito.”
Marcoleta responded by asserting that a unanimous decision does not prevent an appeal or reversal.
“At saka po tayo pag nananakbo. Ako po ay nakasapatos at saka sa kalsada kaya hindi po ako matitinik. Well, Mr. President, there's always a first time. Regardless of whether it's unanimous or not, [a] unanimous decision does not bar an appeal or a reversal, Mr. President. That is one thing for sure,” he answered.
Where is the ball?
Senator Sotto then inquired about the current status of the impeachment case, emphasizing that they cannot dismiss any case if it is not currently under the Senate's jurisdiction. He suggested the importance of a proper sequence of actions in such matters.
He also suggests having a sense of the proper sequencing of moves.
In defense, Marcoleta asserted that the Supreme Court has instructed the Senate to dismiss the case, citing its decision that the issue falls outside the Senate's jurisdiction.
Observations
Sotto's observation, along with a group of lawyers, is that the Supreme Court’s decision contains inconsistencies and appears to have multiple authors.
“It is incoherent and some parts are off-topic, they said. It's like a patchwork. Read it carefully. There are many good lawyers here. Read it. It even quoted the entire Article 11 of the Constitution, not only once, but twice. It seems there were two parentheses. It's like two authors here. Well, that is there in my observations. Just an observation,” the Senator shared.
Although Sotto mentioned that he is friends with both the Vice President and former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, he reiterated that the decision is not final and is still subject to appeal.
“What I'm pointing out is the danger of outright dismissing the impeachment proceedings by virtue of a decision that is not yet final and still pending appeal,” he said.
Sotto concluded his speech by moving the table to dismiss Marcoleta's motion regarding Duterte’s case.
