The Supreme Court dismisses the petitions challenging the House of Representatives' action on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte as moot.

This means the issues raised in the petitions no longer need to be resolved by the court. According to the Supreme Court, this is because the House of Representatives has already approved and transmitted the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

“The SC ruled that the issues raised in the petitions had become moot, or no longer required resolution, because the House had already approved and transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate,” according to SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Sue Mae Ting

The dismissed petitions were separately filed by Att. Israelito Torreon and VP Duterte’s legal team. The petitioners argued that the House Committee on Justice allegedly exceeded its constitutional authority in gathering evidence and compelling witnesses to appear.

The Supreme Court explained that the transmittal of the articles of impeachment signaled the end of the House’s role and marked as the start for the Senate to initiate the proceedings.

“The SC explained that the House’s transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment marked the end of the House’s role in the impeachment process and the initiation of the impeachment case,” Atty. Ting said

While the court acknowledged that it can issue decisions regarding moot issues under exceptional cases, it stated that there was no sufficient basis to apply such exceptions to the present matter.

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