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No SC Stop Azcuna Says Duterte Impeachment Hearings Should Push Through
Photo credit: Senate PH
Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna said the impeachment hearings against Vice President Sara Duterte should proceed, following the Supreme Court of the Philippines decision not to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO).
Speaking on ANC’s Headstart, Azcuna said the High Court’s move signals non-interference for now, allowing the House of Representatives of the Philippines to continue its proceedings.
"The message here is that the Supreme Court does not want at this stage to intervene... and so it is saying that the House committee can proceed with its scheduled hearings," he said.
He stressed that the House is acting within its constitutional mandate to determine probable cause—not guilt—when the Committee on Justice begins hearings on April 14.
"So far, I think it has confined itself really to its constitutional duty to determine probable cause," Azcuna said. “The purpose of impeachment is to preserve the constitutional order…”
The panel is expected to review key evidence, including audit reports, SALN records, and documents tied to the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. It has also sought findings from the National Bureau of Investigation regarding Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and others.
Azcuna noted that the threshold for probable cause is “very low,” meaning extensive cross-examination is not yet required.
"So there's no need for full-blown cross-examination… a person of reasonable mind will think that there is probability… that the offense was probably committed," he explained.
He added that major discrepancies in Duterte’s financial disclosures could already support probable cause, while her remarks on alleged death threats may be treated as a “partial admission.”
Azcuna also dismissed claims of bias, saying the House’s role is to prosecute, not judge.
"The role of the House is prosecution… An impeachment is not a judgment. It's a charge," he said.
Lawmakers have up to 60 session days to complete the hearings and submit a report, as Duterte faces multiple complaint, including graft, betrayal of public trust, and constitutional violations linked to the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds.
Speaking on ANC’s Headstart, Azcuna said the High Court’s move signals non-interference for now, allowing the House of Representatives of the Philippines to continue its proceedings.
"The message here is that the Supreme Court does not want at this stage to intervene... and so it is saying that the House committee can proceed with its scheduled hearings," he said.
He stressed that the House is acting within its constitutional mandate to determine probable cause—not guilt—when the Committee on Justice begins hearings on April 14.
"So far, I think it has confined itself really to its constitutional duty to determine probable cause," Azcuna said. “The purpose of impeachment is to preserve the constitutional order…”
The panel is expected to review key evidence, including audit reports, SALN records, and documents tied to the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. It has also sought findings from the National Bureau of Investigation regarding Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and others.
Azcuna noted that the threshold for probable cause is “very low,” meaning extensive cross-examination is not yet required.
"So there's no need for full-blown cross-examination… a person of reasonable mind will think that there is probability… that the offense was probably committed," he explained.
He added that major discrepancies in Duterte’s financial disclosures could already support probable cause, while her remarks on alleged death threats may be treated as a “partial admission.”
Azcuna also dismissed claims of bias, saying the House’s role is to prosecute, not judge.
"The role of the House is prosecution… An impeachment is not a judgment. It's a charge," he said.
Lawmakers have up to 60 session days to complete the hearings and submit a report, as Duterte faces multiple complaint, including graft, betrayal of public trust, and constitutional violations linked to the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds.
Apr 13, 2026
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