DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/18 Feb) — Vice Mayor J. Melchor Quitain, 20 city councilors, and other supporters of the Dutertes have filed a petition with the Supreme Court to block the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The petitioners include lawyers Martin Delgra III, former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chief under former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Israelito Torreon, counsel of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Among the 29 petitioners are councilors from Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (HTL), Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), and PDP-Laban. Notable petitioners include Luna Maria Dominiques-Acosta, Bai Hundra Cassandra Dominique Advincula, and others, alongside lawyers James and Hillary Olga Reserva and political vloggers Darwin Salcedo, Lord Oliver Cristobal, and Lord Byron Cristobal. Excluded from the petition were councilors Marissa Abella, Temujin “Tek” Ocampo, and January Duterte, among others. Quitain emphasized that the petition questions the constitutionality of the impeachment process, citing alleged procedural lapses, though he did not specify which rules were violated. He clarified that their actions were apolitical and made as ordinary citizens and taxpayers. Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Jr. expressed hope that the Supreme Court would examine whether the impeachment complaints involved “grave abuse of discretion” by the House of Representatives. The petition argues that impeachment should be reserved for the most serious offenses. A total of 240 representatives have signed the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte, accusing her of betrayal of public trust and misuse of confidential funds, among other allegations. The first complaint highlighted alleged unaccounted P125 million in confidential funds and unliquidated P7 billion in cash advances during her tenure as Education secretary. Subsequent complaints reiterated similar accusations. The petition was filed on 18 February 2025, with Councilor Luna Acosta among those present.
