Atty. Howard Calleja, law professor, strongly criticized the Senate Impeachment Court for remanding the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte back to the House of Representatives, calling the move a blatant deviation from constitutional duties.
“Kung walang Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) ang Supreme Court, bakit hinaharang ng Senado?” Calleja asked in an interview with DZRH Magandang Umaga Pilipinas on Friday, June 13.
“Ang duty nila [Senate] ay mag-hold ng trial, not to question the proceedings,” he reiterated.
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WATCH: Inalmahan ni Atty. Howard Calleja, law professor, ang ginawang pag-remand ng Senate Impeachment Court sa kaso vs. VP Sara Duterte.
"Kung walang Temporary Restraining Order ang Supreme Court, bakit hinaharang ng Senado? Ang duty ng nila ay… pic.twitter.com/pt6xa69V4h
The Senate’s move came after 18 senator-judges voted in favor of returning the articles of impeachment, citing the need for further certification and clarification from the 20th Congress.
However, Calleja labeled the action as a constitutional overreach.
“Ang nakakatawa rito, mukhang ang Senado ang magulo. Napakasimple ng ating Konstitusyon—‘shall forthwith proceed.’ Dapat nag-trial na agad,” he stressed.
Calleja noted that the House of Representatives had already completed its duty, with a resolution affirming the legality and constitutionality of the impeachment process.
“Ang ginawa lang ng Senado, una ginulo nila ang proseso, pangalawa dinelay lang nila ang proseso. February 7 pa ang closing ng Senado [pero] sinara na nila ng February 5," he said.
"Mali na nga iyon, mali na nga hindi na nga natin kinuwestyon iyon,” he said, describing the Senate’s demand for further certification as an unnecessary delay.
He also questioned the Senate's insistence on seeking confirmation from the 20th Congress, which convenes in July.
“Sabi ng House, ready na sila since February 5. So bakit kailangan pa ng confirmation sa 20th Congress? Sino ba ang nag-dribble at nagpabagal sa proseso kundi ang Senado mismo?,” he explained.
On February 5, 2025 the House impeached VP Duterte with 215 endoresement signatures and transmitted the articles to the Senate.
Moreover, Calleja did not hold back in criticizing the 18 senators who voted for the remand, accusing them of partisanship.
“Senator-judges sila, pero naging abogado ni Sara Duterte. [Kung] gusto nila maging abogado, bakit sila nag-senador,” he said.
He called the proceedings a “circus,” warning the public against re-electing the same lawmakers in future elections.
“Huwag na natin iboto ang mga clowns na ito para hindi maging circus ang Senado. Bumoto tayo nang tama sa susunod na eleksyon. Sila na ang tanggalin natin.,” Calleja stated.
“Niloloko na tayo, ginagago na tayo harap-harapan dito,” he emphasized.
Calleja further emphasized that the problem lies not with the Constitution, but with those entrusted to uphold it, particularly pointing to the 18 senator-judges.
“Hindi natin [kailangan] repasuhin ang batas, repasuhin natin kung sino ang iboboto natin. Hindi ‘yung mga kung sino sino lang,” he said.
He added that the impeachment process has been done properly in the past, and this is the first time it has been met with such chaos.
He warned that the Senate is setting a dangerous precedent by acting as an ‘appellate court’ over the House’s actions.
“Ang lumalabas pa rito ang Senado naging appellate court o mas mataas sa Kongreso, pareho sila, co-equal bodies lang naman sila,” Calleja said.
With the unclear impeachment trial process and the 20th Congress yet to convene, questions loom on whether the House will seek intervention from the Supreme Court.
“Mas maganda sundin na lang ng Kamara ang proseso. Kung pupunta pa sila sa Supreme Court, mas tatagal. 'Pag simula naman ng 20th congress na ready, tapos ang usapan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Calleja reminds the public to not vote for those senators and leaders who have made the Senate circus, and especially those who voted to dismissed the impeachment trial.
“Sa susunod na eleksyon, alalahanin natin kung sino ang 18 na ito. Huwag tayong magpa-budol ulit,” he concluded.
When the Senate convened as an impeachment court on Tuesday, June 10, a total of 18-5 senator-judges voted to return the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives, while only 5 voted against the move.
