Neophyte Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Wednesday (Aug. 6) moved for the dismissal of the impeachment case filed against Vice President Sara Duterte in compliance with the 13-0 Supreme Court ruling junking the complaint.

Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III quickly blocked the motion, as he countered with a motion to table Marcoleta’s proposal.

“Please let us allow and give chance to Supreme Court to rectify its decision which contains clear and blatant errors for their sake and for the sake of future proceedings,” said Sotto.

Rising for a privilege speech, Marcoleta cited the SC ruling that was written by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and backed by 12 other associate justices. Only two SC members did not participate in the voting.

“Mr. President, when the Supreme court negates the actionsof a co-equal branch of government, it does not assert its superiority. Instead, it upholds the supremacy and the dominance of the fundamental law of the land, the Constitution,” said Marcoleta, a lawyer.

“And so, the Supreme Court has already spoken. The last arbiter of law, it says the complaint is unconstitutional, is void ab initio, is violative of due process. The Senate never acquired jurisdiction over this,” he stressed.

The High Court the ruling immediately executory.

Noting that the ruling was unanimously for the rejection of the impeachment case, Marcoleta said there is nearly no likelihood for a reversal.

Sotto claimed his research showed that even landmark decisions can be reversed.

The veteran senator pointed out that there is a pending motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives on the controversial SC ruling.

No voting was conducted to resolve the contradicting motions of Marcoleta and Sotto.

Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros said Senate must tackle the motions raised as an impeachment court.

However, Senator President Francis “Chiz” Escudero dismissed the proposals, noting that the SC ruling clearly stated that the Senate has not acquired jurisdiction over the impeachment case and thus, cannot constitute itself as an impeachment court.

Escudero also stressed that the motions raised may be taken up with Senate acting as a plenary body and not as an impeachment court.