SC has no jurisdiction over impeach court—Santiago

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has no jurisdiction over the Senate impeachment court, whose power under the Constitution has no restrictions, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said on Tuesday.

Santiago made this assertion when asked of the reported plan of the Corona’s camp to go to the high tribunal if the Senate would allow the prosecution to present evidence pertaining to alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Chief Justice.

“That’s not a remedy available because this is a high court of impeachment…We’re a high court. We’re as high as the Supreme Court,” she said at a press conference.

The impeachment court, Santiago pointed out, was a ‘constitutional creation’ and was not listed as among those covered by the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction.

“The Supreme Court cannot assert any level of judicial authority over the impeachment court. We’re completely separate and independent,” she said.

The senator also used the same argument on the Supreme Court’s order for the Senate to answer a petition filed in court to stop the ongoing trial of Corona.

But Santiago said the Senate should answer the petition only to inform the high tribunal that it has no jurisdiction over the impeachment court.

“If at all the impeachment court will file a reply, it’s simply to say you have no jurisdiction over us and we don’t care to explicate or to explain ourselves fully at length because there’s no necessity,” she said.

“We’re an independent court. Out of courtesy to you, we just enter to educate you that you have no power over us. That should be the extent of the answer, and we will proceed anyway no matter what they do,” she further said.