Hontiveros: Voting to dismiss Sara Duterte impeachment trial ’premature’

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Minority Leader Sen. Risa Hontiveros vowed on Thursday to block any motion to dismiss the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, maintaining that junking the proceedings is still premature at present.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Thursday, Hontiveros said an elaborate debate would ensue in the plenary should a senator raise a motion to dismiss Duterte’s impeachment case on August 6.

READ: Senate to tackle SC’s Sara Duterte impeachment ruling on August 6

“If that happens, we would debate on it and I am ready, we in the minority are ready to fight for our arguments, our opinions, and our vote regarding that,” said Hontiveros in Filipino.



The opposition lawmaker said she would personally vote against any motion to dismiss the trial if the matter is brought before the plenary session.

“Up to now, it is still premature to vote on any motion to dismiss because what would we dismiss if there's still no evidence or any warm body witness that we, senator judges, have heard?” she said.

READ: SC ruling on Sara Duterte trial sparks calls for review

Senate President Francis Escudero previously announced that all senators have agreed to schedule the discussions on impeachment for August 6, particularly regarding questions about how to proceed following the Supreme Court’s decision to declare the articles of impeachment null and void.

Escudero said scheduling the discussion for August 6 would give senator-judges ample time to study the 97-page decision issued by the Supreme Court.

For his part, the Senate chief believes there is no longer a need for the Senate impeachment court to convene after the Supreme Court declared the impeachment case against Duterte unconstitutional.

He underscored, however, that this is just his personal opinion, as the decision of the majority of the Senate will always prevail.

Meanwhile, Hontiveros believes the Senate was not “vindicated” by the high court’s ruling. She said the Senate and Supreme Court are co-equal branches of the government; hence, they each hold separate, distinct yet equal obligations to act on matters within their jurisdictions. /das/abc

(2025/07/31-12:26)

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