Rodrigo Duterte among VP Sara's lawyers in SC petition

Former President Rodrigo Duterte has signed on as legal counsel of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, in her petition before the Supreme Court seeking to stop her impeachment trial.

The Duterte patriarch inked the Vice President's 36-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, along with five other lawyers. The petition was filed with the high court on Tuesday, February 18.

The Vice President, who was impeached by the House of Representatives earlier this month, appealed before the SC to issue a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction to "enjoin all the respondents from proceeding with the impeachment trial before the Senate, and to desist from doing any and all acts relative and pursuant thereto."

After proper proceedings, she also asked the high court to issue a final injunction, nullify and set aside the fourth impeachment complaint against her, invoking a one-year ban.

The Constitution states that no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a year.

Dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, pumirma bilang abugado ng anak na si VP Sara sa petisyon nito sa Korte Suprema @gmanews pic.twitter.com/lpK48PFGNw

— Saleema Refran (@saleema_refran) February 19, 2025

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint.

The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate the same day, but the upper chamber adjourned without tackling the impeachment case.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said Duterte's impeachment trial would most likely start after the State of the Nations Address (SONA) on July 21 under the 20th Congress.

Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court directed the Senate to comment on the petition seeking to compel the upper chamber to immediately begin the Vice President's impeachment trial. — VDV, GMA Integrated News