“WHY the rush?”

Ito ang tanong ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez sa naging aksyon ng Senado ng ipadala nito sa archive ang impeachment complaint laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte sa kabila ng kawalan ng pinal na desisyon ang Korte Suprema.

“Yesterday, the Senate—not sitting as an impeachment court—moved swiftly to archive the complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, despite the case still pending before the Supreme Court. To archive is, in effect, to bury the Articles of Impeachment,” ani Romualdez.

Binigyang-diin ng lider ng Kamara na hindi pa tapos ang kaso dahil wala pang inilalabas na pinal na desisyon ang Korte Suprema.

“Yet the ruling of the Supreme Court is not final. On August 5, the House of Representatives filed a Motion for Reconsideration. The Court found our arguments serious enough to require the respondents, including the Vice President, to submit their comment. The case is active,” paliwanag ng mambabatas.

Muling iginiit ni Romualdez na ayon sa Saligang Batas, tanging ang Kamara lamang ang may kapangyarihang magsimula ng impeachment, at ito ay “final within its sphere.”

“We exercised that power lawfully, transparently, and in good faith—not out of spite, but out of duty. Not to attack, but to ask for answers—answers the Vice President never gave,” sabi ni Romualdez.

Ipinaliwanag ni Romualdez na ang verified complaint na nilagdaan ng 215 miyembro ng Kamara—o higit sa one-third ng mga miyembro nito—ay sapat na para awtomatikong ipadala ang Articles of Impeachment sa Senado.

“No referral to committee was needed. No further plenary action was required. The process was complete,” dagdag pa ng kongresista.

“This was never about political maneuvering. It was about accountability—pananagutan—anchored on verified facts and sworn documents,” giit ni Romualdez.

Ipinahayag din ni Romualdez ang pagkadismaya sa mga personal na pagbatikos at sa pagkalat ng maling impormasyon matapos maisampa ang reklamo, na aniya’y nagpapahina sa kredibilidad ng mga demokratikong institusyon.

“Yet we have been met with personal attacks, sweeping accusations, and a narrative that seeks to reduce a solemn constitutional duty into mere power play. That’s not just unfair—it is dangerous. It undermines public trust in the very tools of democratic checks and balances,” aniya.

Binigyang-diin ni Romualdez ang tila kahina-hinalang bilis ng naging aksyon ng Senado kaugnay ng impeachment complaint laban sa Bise Presidente.

“Let’s be clear: The filing of the complaint was not rushed. What was rushed—remarkably—was its burial,” diin Romualdez.

Dagdag pa ng lider ng Kamara, “This moment will be remembered. And when it is, we hope it will be said: That the House stood its ground. That we honored our constitutional duty. That we acted not for ourselves, but for the Filipino people.”

“We do not rise against the Senate. We rise for the Republic. Tuloy ang laban. For the Constitution. For the rule of law. And for the enduring truth that no public office is ever beyond the reach of accountability,” giit ni Romualdez.