Marcos respects Supreme Court dismissal of impeachment petitions

MANILA — Malacañan Palace confirmed Thursday that President Marcos respects the Supreme Court's ruling to reject petitions that sought to overturn the Senate impeachment court's decision on conviction requirements for Vice President Duterte.

Palace press officer Claire Castro announced the president's position at a briefing, stating that Marcos accepts the high court's judgment on the contentious matter. The September 23 ruling by the Senate impeachment court had modified the number of votes required to convict the vice president, a decision that prompted legal challenges from various parties.

The Supreme Court's dismissal of the three petitions effectively closes one avenue of judicial recourse for those opposing the Senate impeachment court's action. The decision clears the way for proceedings to continue under the modified voting thresholds established by the Senate tribunal.

The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte have drawn significant public and political attention since their initiation. The controversy surrounding the vote threshold change had sparked broader debates about procedural fairness and the conduct of impeachment trials in the upper chamber.

With the Supreme Court's decision now final, the Senate impeachment court is positioned to move forward with its proceedings under the existing framework established in September.