IMPEACHMENT

Who are impeachable:

President
Vice President
Members of the Supreme Court
Members of the Constitutional Commissions
-COMELEC, COA, CSC
Ombudsman
 Grounds for Impeachment
For and conviction of:
a. Culpable violation of the Constitution
b. Treason
c. Bribery
d. Graft and corruption
e. Other high crimes or
f. Betrayal of public trust
 IMPEACHMENT
The House of Representatives shall have the
exclusive power to initiate impeachment cases
 Impeachment Procedure
1. Filing of verified complaint – by any member of the
House of Representative or by any citizen upon a
resolution of endorsement by any member of the
House of Representatives.

If the verified complaint is filed by at least 1/3 of

all the members of the House of Representatives,
the same shall constitute the Articles of
Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith
proceed
Impeachment Procedure

2. Within 10 session days, the matter shall be

included in the Order of Business of the House of
Representatives
 Impeachment Procedure

3. Within 3 session days, the matter shall be referred

to the proper committee for deliberation.
 Impeachment Procedure
4. Committee Hearing – the matter shall be
heard/discussed by the Committee and within 60
days from referral, the members shall submit a
Committee Report. A majority vote of all members of
the committee is required as to the recommendation
of the committee.
 Impeachment Procedure
5. Within 10 session days from receipt of the
Committee Report together with the Resolution, the
same shall be calendared for consideration of the
House of Representatives en banc.

If the Resolution of Impeachment is filed by at

least 1/3 of all the members of the House of
Representatives, the same shall constitute the
Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate
shall forthwith proceed.
 Impeachment Procedure

6. Voting. A vote of at least 1/3 of all the members of

the House of Representatives shall be necessary to
affirm a favorable resolution with the Articles of
Impeachment submitted by the committee, or
override its contrary resolution.
 Limitation on Impeachment

*No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated

against the same official more than once within a
period of one year.
 Impeachment Procedure
7. Trial. The Senate shall have the sole power to try7
and decide all cases of impeachment.
-The Senators shall be under oath/affirmation.
-When the President is on trial, the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court shall preside, but shall not
vote.
-No person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of 2/3 of all the Members of the Senate
 Impeachment Procedure
8. Judgment. Judgment in cases of impeachment
shall not extend further than removal from office and
disqualification to hold any office under the Republic
of the Philippines
-but the party convicted shall nevertheless be
liable and subject to prosecution, trial, and
punishment according to law.
References for reading:
• 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, Art. XI, Sections 1-3.
• House of Representative Rules of Procedure in Impeachment
Proceedings. Promulgated on August 3, 2010.
• Senate Resolution No. 39. “Adopting the Rules of Procedure on
Impeachment Trials. Adopted on March 23, 2011.
 Impeachment Cases in the
Philippines
• There were three impeachment cases in the
Philippines:
1. The case of President Joseph Estrada
2. The case of Ombudsman Merceditas N. Gutierrez
3. The Case of Chief Justice Renato Corona

The case if Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno

is not an impeachment case. It is a QUO WARRANTO
Joseph Estrada Case
• Initiated in 2001. The trial was aborted due to his
ouster/people power movement.
Read: People of the Philippines versus Joseph
Ejercito Estrada, et. al., GR No. 26558, Sept. 12,
2007
 Case of Maria Merceditas N.
Gutierrez
• First impeachment complaint filed in 2009 –
DISMISSED.
• Second impeachment complaint filed on March 23,
2011 – Trial CANCELLED upon resignation of the
Respondent and acceptance of her resignation by
the President of the Republic of the Philippines
(April 29, 2011)
• Read: Gutierrez versus House of Representatives
Committee on Justice. GR No. 193459, Feb. 15,
2011.
 Case of Chief Justice Renato
Corona
• Complaint Filed on December 12, 2011.
• Trial by the Senate started on December 13, 2011
and concluded on May 29, 2012.
• Judgment- GUILTY. Removed from office.
 Case of Chief Justice Maria
Lourdes P.A. Sereno
• Quo Warranto
• Removed from office
• Read: Republic versus Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno.
GR No. 237428, June 19, 2018.