Manila: Senate President Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III on Thursday criticized the Supreme Court's ruling declaring the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional, warning that the decision encroaches on Congress' exclusive powers under the Constitution.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Supreme Court earlier upheld with finality its decision declaring the articles of impeachment against Duterte as unconstitutional, and that the Senate did not acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings. The ruling came after the High Court unanimously denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives.

Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting said the justices found no merit in the House's motion, effectively affirming the earlier decision that invalidated the impeachment process. Reacting to the ruling in a message to reporters, Sotto said the decision amounted to judicial overreach and altered clear constitutional provisions on impeachment.

Sotto emphasized that the Constitution had been effectively amended unconstitutionally through Supreme Court overreach, suggesting that the clear wording of the law required no further interpretation. He accused the High Court of crossing into legislative territory by laying down rules for Congress to follow in impeachment proceedings.

Sotto warned that the ruling could significantly limit Congress' impeachment authority under Article XI of the Constitution, which grants the House of Representatives the exclusive power to initiate impeachment cases. He remarked that impeachment had become an "impossible dream."

The Senate leader expressed concern that correcting what he described as a misinterpretation of the Constitution could take decades, as future court rulings would be needed to revisit the doctrine set by the decision.