MANILA, Philippines – In a landmark ruling, the Philippine Supreme Court unanimously struck down the impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, declaring it unconstitutional. The high court sided with Duterte’s legal team, emphasizing that Congress had violated the constitutional provision prohibiting more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official within a 12-month period.
Originally filed in February, the impeachment complaint accused Duterte of misusing public funds, accumulating unexplained wealth, and issuing threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. More than 200 lawmakers in the House of Representatives supported the move, making it the fourth complaint filed against her within a year.
According to Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting, “The articles of impeachment, which were based on the fourth complaint, violated the one-year impeachment ban as three prior complaints had already been submitted.”
As a result, the Senate was found to have no authority to proceed with an impeachment tribunal, effectively nullifying the impeachment process.
Vice President Duterte’s lawyers welcomed the ruling, stating, “This unanimous decision has once again upheld the rule of law and reinforced the constitutional limits against abuse of the impeachment process.”
Despite the legal victory, the Supreme Court clarified that Duterte has not been exonerated from the allegations. The ruling only halts the current impeachment effort due to procedural violations. A new complaint may still be filed after the one-year ban period expires.
Duterte, who has consistently claimed the impeachment was politically motivated amid ongoing tensions with President Marcos, is widely considered a strong contender in the 2028 presidential race. A conviction from the impeachment trial would have disqualified her from holding public office for life.
President Marcos has remained distant from the issue, reiterating that the executive branch has no role in impeachment proceedings. His office acknowledged the Supreme Court’s decision and called for respect toward the rule of law.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives issued a statement expressing continued commitment to “truth and accountability,” indicating that the battle over the allegations may not be over.
Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte—who is under investigation by the International Criminal Court for his controversial war on drugs—remains a polarizing figure in Philippine politics. Her legal team emphasized their readiness to address any future complaints: “We remain prepared to address the allegations at the proper time and before the appropriate forum.”
