Former SC Justice Insights on SC Ruling on Dismissal of Impeachment trial of SARA Duterte!
Statement of Justice Adolf Azcuna today posted in social media . The Principal Casualty The principal casualty of the Supreme Court decision applying new rules on impeachment is the principle of accountability. As most impartial observers agree, the Supreme Court’s newly pronounced definition of “initiate,” contrary to its own prevailing definition, would not only be unfair if applied retroactively, but would even as applied prospectively, unduly constrain the House of Representatives in the exercise of its EXCLUSIVE power to initiate ALL cases of impeachment (Art XI, Sec 3, Subsec 1 of the Philippine Constitution). Note that we are here concerned with THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS. THE PRINCIPAL MECHANISM ADOPTED BY ART XI OF THE CONSTITUTION TO ENFORCE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE HIGHEST OFFICIALS IS IMPEACHMENT. This is a SUI GENERIS PROCEDURE so that normal requirements of notice and due process are subordinated to the overarching demand for accountability....