Former Cagayan de Oro City Mayor and Law Professor Atty. Oscar Moreno stated that the defense team’s plan to petition the Supreme Court following the Senate’s rejection of the 16-vote threshold will likely be dismissed for lack of ripeness.
Moreno noted that seeking judicial intervention at this stage is premature, as no formal vote has occurred to establish a final trial outcome.
He emphasized that under the principle of separation of powers, impeachment remains a political process under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Senate, making Supreme Court intervention improbable unless grave abuse of discretion is clearly demonstrated.
