The Philippine Supreme Court has officially dismissed the petitions filed by Vice President Sara Duterte and lawyer Israelito Torreon, which sought to stall the impeachment hearings conducted by the House of Representatives. The High Court declared the matter moot, noting that the House had already concluded its proceedings and transitioned the case to the Senate, where the impeachment trial has been underway for a month. By the time the Court ruled, the specific actions the petitioners aimed to block were already long finished, effectively rendering the legal challenge obsolete.

The decision has been met with approval by House prosecutors, who view the ruling as a vindication of the Justice Committee’s investigative process. As the focus of the trial shifts from personal conduct and threats to a rigorous examination of alleged financial mismanagement, the proceedings are heating up. Auditors and bank officials have already provided testimony regarding suspicious, large-scale cash withdrawals and the improper liquidation of over P600 million in government funds. With the prosecution preparing to delve into further allegations of unexplained wealth and corruption, the trial is expected to continue through the end of the year.