Cited Laws
Accordingly, they archived the first three complaints. [122] Citing Gutierrez v. House of Representatives , [123] respondent House emphasizes that there is no requirement for the Secretary General to transmit the impeachment complaints on the same day of filing and endorsement, as Gutierrez "[cautioned] against senseless haste in the House's disposition of impeachment complaints." [124] Respondent House affirms that "the Secretary General has no discretion to . . . refuse transmittal to the Speaker of the House," but explain that all four impeachment complaints were transmitted to the House Speaker on February 5, 2025, as reflected in House Journal No. 36. [125] They firmly assert that the first three impeachment complaints were transmitted within the prescribed 10-day period from their respective filing and endorsement: (1) the first impeachment complaint on the 10 th session day; (2) the second impeachment complaint on the 9 th session day; and (3) the third impeachment complaint on the 7 th session day. [126] They further clarify that calendar days are not the same as session days, explaining that one session day may span more than one calendar day, "when the session is only suspended, and not adjourned, at the end of a calendar day." [127] Respondent House confirms that petitioner Duterte was not given the opportunity to be heard on the evidence submitted in support of the Articles of Impeachment, but insists that the Constitution does not require that the impeachable officer be afforded an opportunity to be heard prior to the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. [128] Respondent House declines to respond to inquiries pertaining to the preparation, circulation, and perusal of each member of the impeachment complaints, asserting that these are matters internal to the Congress and beyond this Court's jurisdiction, pursuant to the doctrine of separation of powers under the Constitution. [129] Nevertheless, they submit a copy of Resolution No. 328, which they submitted to the Senate Impeachment Court on June 25, 2025, affirming the regularity and validity of the fourth impeachment complaint. [130] Finally, respondent House submits that the issues raised in this Court's July 8, 2025 Resolution pertain to factual matters that may be appropriately addressed during the trial before the Senate Impeachment Court. [131] The Issues Before This Court The issues for this Court to resolve are as follows: (1) Whether the nature of impeachment proceedings allow this Court to exercise its power of judicial review under Article VIII, Section 1 of the Constitution; (2) Whether the nature of impeachment proceedings is a legal and constitutional procedure that can be subject of this Court's expanded power of judicial review; (3) With respect to the procedure outlined in Article XI, Section 3(2) of the Constitution: a. Whether the House of Representatives complied with the requirement to refer the three impeachment complaints to the proper comm