Lawyer's Mumbo Jumbo

 

PHRASE: Sui Generis

MEANING: The legal term sui generis is Latin, meaning literally, "one of a kind. " Anything sui generis is there's nothing else like it or it's own thing. They are not like anyone or anything else. A "Rara avis" or a rare bird.

Other phrases or words that would be synonymous are: in a class of its own ... one and only ... one of a kind ... by itself ... on its own ... unique ... peculiar ... distinct.

EXAMPLE: Senator Joey Villanueva said the impeachment court (or the Senate) is sui generis ... meaning it is separate and a class all to itself.

There are three branches of the government (the legislative branch- the House of Representatives and the Senate), the other being the executive branch (the President of the Philippines), and the Judicial branch (the Supreme Court).

The Senate is not working under the Supreme Court, nor are they subordinate to SC, considered junior or lower ranking ... or lowly or inferior member.

In the Philippine government, the Senate and the House of Representatives are co-equal branches of the Legislative branch, also known as Congress. They share the responsibility of lawmaking, with each chamber having distinct powers and characteristics.

One of the House of Representatives' mandates is to initiate the impeachment process against any erring high official.

And the Senate ... HAS THE SOLE POWER TO TRY AND DECIDE ALL IMPEACHMENT CASES.

The Supreme Court has no business encroaching on the decision whether to proceed to impeachment or not.

With sui generis ... the Supreme Court can issue rulings, but they can't overreach and overstep their bounds or take over the mandate that belongs to the Senate.

The Supreme Court also lacks the authority to reject or cancel a decision or view that can only be made by the Senate.

In the impeachment of Inday Sara ...the Senators who want to play safe (they are already thinking of the fallout in the 2028 election). Some of them are hiding under the skirt of the Supreme Court and issuing statements like "nakadesisyong na ang mataas na hukom at irespeto na lang natin ..." which is not well thought of.

Utang na loob hindi desisyon ng Supreme Court yon. The decision to proceed to impeach (acquit or convict is the mandate of the Senate.

Huwag maghugas ng kamay na parang si Poncio Pilato! Matagal pa ang Holy Week.

Sui generis makes the Senate unique and distinct from others. They alone can decide what to do with their mandate without any interference from any Supreme body.