Senator Christopher “Bong” Go welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling declaring the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional. He reaffirmed his earlier position that the Senate acted correctly when it remanded the case to the House of Representatives for clarification.
Go emphasized the centrality of due process, constitutional adherence, and the need to focus on genuine public service amid political distractions.
“Ngayon na may desisyon na ang Supreme Court, galangin natin ito. Sana ay maging daan ito para sa ating pagkakaisa bilang isang bansa, alang-alang sa ating bayan at mga mamamayan lalo na ang mga mahihirap,” Go stated following the Court’s verdict.
He reiterated that public service and the delivery of government programs must not be overshadowed by political issues.
“Marami pa ang dapat na maisabatas upang mas lalong mapabuti natin ang mga serbisyo at programa ng gobyerno at mas mailapit pa ang mga ito sa mga Pilipino. Tuluy-tuloy lang tayo sa ating trabaho at pagseserbisyo, lalo na sa panahon ngayon na maraming mga kababayan natin ang apektado pa rin ng malawakang pagbaha dala ng sunud-sunod na mga bagyo,” he said.
“Again, let us focus on what is important for our people we serve: Hustisya sa tamang paraan. At serbisyo na makakatulong sa mga Pilipino. ‘Yon po ang kailangan ng taumbayan, ‘yon po ang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin,” Go added.
Go expressed gratitude that the Senate’s earlier recommendation to remand the Articles of Impeachment to the Lower House was affirmed by the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“Gayunpaman, nagpapasalamat ako na tama ang aming rekomendasyon noon na i-remand muna ang impeachment complaint laban kay VP Sara Duterte,” he said.
Referring to his remarks during the June 10 plenary session, where senators took their oaths as impeachment judges, Go stressed the importance of clarifying legal uncertainties before proceeding.
“Tulad ng aking ipinahiwatig pagkatapos ng aming oath taking bilang senator-judges sa plenaryo noong June 10: ‘Yes, we are senator-judges tasked to decide on this matter and we took an oath to be impartial. But this matter, whether it went through the right process or not, should first be decided upon and settled.’”
“That is why we must respect and abide by the decision of the Supreme Court, as the final arbiter on legal issues, barring the current impeachment proceedings on the grounds of due process,” he continued.
“Sa paliwanag ng SC, nasagot na ang ating mga katanungan ukol sa apat na impeachment complaints na hindi alinsunod sa one-year ban at iba pang prosesong mistulang hindi nasunod kung kaya’t hindi maaaring maipagpatuloy ang impeachment.”
He underscored that his earlier objections were rooted in the same principle: “Magkapareho po ang prinsipyo na aking sinabi noon sa kinalabasan ngayon—na dapat hindi na-circumvent ang batas, dapat nasunod ang due process at ang rules. Justice delayed is justice denied. And justice conducted the wrong way is no justice at all. Hindi pwede ang shortcut!”
During the Senate’s June 10 session, Go was among those questioning the procedural integrity of the complaint. He emphasized the distinction between politics and justice: “Ang gusto nating kalabasan ng paglilitis na ito ay hustisya, hindi pulitika.”
Citing Article XI, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution, Go questioned the legality of the proceedings: “Under Article 11, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution, a verified complaint for impeachment may be filed by any Member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution or endorsement by any Member thereof, which shall be included in the Order of Business within ten session days, and referred to the proper Committee within three session days thereafter.”
Earlier, Go flagged possible procedural lapses, specifically the handling of three earlier complaints filed in December 2024: “Anong nangyari sa tatlong naunang impeachment complaints? Bakit hindi ito agad agad ni-refer sa Speaker’s Office? Bakit hindi ito isinama sa Order of Business within ten session days? At bakit hindi ito ini-refer sa tamang komite within three session days after its inclusion in the Order of Business, as mandated by our Constitution?”
He added metaphorically, “Tila drinibble lang ito at hindi pina-andar ang shot clock para hindi po ma-technical sa oras. Sa basketball nga, hindi pwedeng puro dribble ka lang, may shot clock po ‘yan at may oras na dapat mong obserbahan.”
Go also earlier cited the pending Supreme Court case at the time and warned of potential effects if the complaint was found to be constitutionally infirm.
“Hindi naman nakakain itong impeachment,” he remarked, urging colleagues to focus on what truly matters to Filipinos: “pagkain sa kanilang hapag; may matibay na healthcare system na kayang tumugon sa pangangailangan ng mga may sakit; disenteng trabaho at marangal na pagkakakitaan; de-kalidad at abot-kayang edukasyon; at ang katiyakan at panatag na ligtas silang makakauwi kahit sa gabi.”
Go then defended the Duterte family: “At kilala ko po ang mga Duterte, Mr. Presiding Officer. Hindi sila tumatakas sa accountability. Hindi sila tumatalikod sa hamon ng buhay. Hindi sila tumatalikod sa kanilang tungkulin.”
He noted that former President Rodrigo Duterte had consistently expressed willingness to face charges locally and that Vice President Sara Duterte had done the same.
On July 25, the Supreme Court unanimously declared the impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte unconstitutional, citing the one‑year ban under Article XI, Section 3, Paragraph 5 of the 1987 Constitution, which prohibits multiple impeachment cases against the same official within a year.
Providing further clarity, Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting explained: “The Supreme Court has ruled that the House impeachment complaint … violated a constitutional safeguard against the filing of multiple complaints against the same official.”
Ting also clarified: “Therefore, the Senate did not acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment complaint.”