At a legal forum, retired Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales and former Senate President Franklin Drilon clashed over whether the Supreme Court (SC) can intervene in impeachment cases.
Carpio-Morales: SC Can Step In If There’s Abuse of Power
Carpio-Morales argued that the SC has the authority to review impeachment cases only if there is a “grave abuse of discretion” or if actual rights are being violated. She pointed to the SC’s expanded powers, which allow it to step in if necessary.
“If the impeachment court commits grave abuse of discretion, why should we not step in?” she questioned.
Drilon: SC Should Stay Out of Impeachment
Drilon disagreed, saying that impeachment is a political process and only the Senate has the power to decide impeachment cases. He insisted that the SC should not overstep its boundaries.
“The Supreme Court should leave the Senate alone,” he firmly stated, arguing that the real solution is to elect better senators.
VP Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Battle
This debate comes as Vice President Sara Duterte challenges her impeachment before the Supreme Court. Her legal team argues that:
🔹 The House of Representatives violated the Constitution by freezing earlier complaints and then suddenly approving a fourth one.
🔹 The one-year impeachment ban was ignored.
She faces seven Articles of Impeachment, including:
⚠️ Alleged plot to assassinate President Marcos Jr. and other top officials
⚠️ Misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds
⚠️ Bribery & corruption in DepEd
⚠️ Unexplained wealth (assets quadrupled from 2007 to 2017)
⚠️ Alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings
⚠️ Allegations of destabilization & public disorder efforts
With the country watching closely, the big question remains: Will the Supreme Court step in or leave the fate of Duterte’s impeachment in the hands of the Senate?
