Upholding Judicial Supremacy, Prioritizing Public Service

By Sherman Calotes | Philippine People's Press 

The Supreme Court of the Philippines has spoken with unanimity: the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is unconstitutional. The reason? The one-year bar rule enshrined in our Constitution which prohibits more than one impeachment complaint against the same official within a year was violated. Regardless of political preferences, the law is the law.

Following the Court’s July 25, 2025 ruling, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to archive the impeachment articles, respecting the judiciary’s decision. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives filed a motion for reconsideration, asserting its role in holding public officials accountable. This shows that our constitutional system is alive, with each branch asserting its duties.

Yet amid these institutional maneuvers, I stand firm: I trust the Supreme Court’s ruling. The Supreme Court is, and will always be, the highest court of our land there is no other "supremest" court. Our justices and associate justices have decades of legal training and deep knowledge of constitutional law. They are entrusted precisely to decide on matters of legal process, free from the tides of electoral politics.

Yes, our elected officials in the Senate and House have their mandates, but when the question is one of constitutional interpretation, we must give primacy to the judiciary. Otherwise, the rule of law becomes subject to shifting political winds.

That is why I believe this prolonged political spectacle must end. Instead of pushing to impeach the Vice President, our leaders should redirect their energies toward the pressing needs of the Filipino people poverty, education, healthcare, jobs, peace and order. Sovereignty resides in the people; let us give them the chance to speak in 2028 through the ballot, not in courtroom battles or impeachment trials.

Our democracy works best when all branches of government focus on serving, not sparring. Let this moment remind us that the Constitution is our guide, the Supreme Court is its interpreter, and the people are its ultimate guardians. Political contests will come and go but service to the nation must remain constant.

Philippine People's Press | In Truth We Prevail