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Advocates Philippines
SC Strikes Down Impeachment Complaint Against VP Sara Duterte, But Legal Doors Remain Open
Photo credit: OVP
The Supreme Court has declared the Articles of Impeachment filed against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional, citing a clear violation of the “one-year rule” under the Constitution. The decision temporarily halts efforts to remove the Vice President from office—but it does not put the issue to rest.
According to Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Mae Ting, the high court ruled that the impeachment complaint was barred under the rule that only one impeachment proceeding may be initiated against an official within a 12-month period. The complaint, filed earlier this year, came less than a year after the withdrawal of a previous attempt.
“This ruling bars the current complaint, but it does not absolve Vice President Duterte from the charges raised,” Ting clarified. “New impeachment complaints may be filed starting February 6, 2026.”
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
Mixed Reactions from the Senate
The Court’s ruling sparked strong—and divided—responses from senators, reflecting deep tensions between the branches of government.
Senator Joel Villanueva emphasized restraint, saying, “The Senate has always acted with prudence, not haste. We remain committed to upholding the rule of law and respecting due process.”
Senator Jinggoy Estrada echoed this view, saying that while impeachment is inherently political, “we must adhere to established procedures and due process to ensure our actions are not arbitrary nor politically driven.”
However, others questioned or openly challenged the Court’s intervention. Former Senate President Tito Sotto raised legal doubts, saying, “I was just told by a legal luminary that in this situation, we can disregard the SC decision. Let me study that advice.”
Senator Bam Aquino insisted the impeachment process should move forward. “The Constitution is clear about the Senate’s mandate as an impeachment court. The process must be respected,” he asserted.
Senator Risa Hontiveros voiced frustration, calling the Supreme Court’s ruling a “disappointing” interference. “Every public official must be held accountable. The constitutional right of the people to demand answers must prevail,” she said.
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
Palace Calls for Calm, Trust in Institutions
In a measured response, the Presidential Communications Office urged the public to respect the Supreme Court’s ruling while acknowledging the importance of the impeachment process.
“We have yet to review the full text of the Supreme Court’s decision. We call on everyone to respect the Supreme Court and place their trust in our institutions,” the statement read. “The impeachment process is a matter handled by the legislative and judicial branches, and we recognize their independence in carrying out their constitutional mandates.”
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
What Comes Next?
For now, the impeachment trial against Vice President Duterte will not proceed. But the possibility of renewed proceedings in 2026 remains open.
The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the delicate balance between legal safeguards and political accountability—and sets the stage for further legal and political battles in the months to come.
According to Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Mae Ting, the high court ruled that the impeachment complaint was barred under the rule that only one impeachment proceeding may be initiated against an official within a 12-month period. The complaint, filed earlier this year, came less than a year after the withdrawal of a previous attempt.
“This ruling bars the current complaint, but it does not absolve Vice President Duterte from the charges raised,” Ting clarified. “New impeachment complaints may be filed starting February 6, 2026.”
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
Mixed Reactions from the Senate
The Court’s ruling sparked strong—and divided—responses from senators, reflecting deep tensions between the branches of government.
Senator Joel Villanueva emphasized restraint, saying, “The Senate has always acted with prudence, not haste. We remain committed to upholding the rule of law and respecting due process.”
Senator Jinggoy Estrada echoed this view, saying that while impeachment is inherently political, “we must adhere to established procedures and due process to ensure our actions are not arbitrary nor politically driven.”
However, others questioned or openly challenged the Court’s intervention. Former Senate President Tito Sotto raised legal doubts, saying, “I was just told by a legal luminary that in this situation, we can disregard the SC decision. Let me study that advice.”
Senator Bam Aquino insisted the impeachment process should move forward. “The Constitution is clear about the Senate’s mandate as an impeachment court. The process must be respected,” he asserted.
Senator Risa Hontiveros voiced frustration, calling the Supreme Court’s ruling a “disappointing” interference. “Every public official must be held accountable. The constitutional right of the people to demand answers must prevail,” she said.
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
Palace Calls for Calm, Trust in Institutions
In a measured response, the Presidential Communications Office urged the public to respect the Supreme Court’s ruling while acknowledging the importance of the impeachment process.
“We have yet to review the full text of the Supreme Court’s decision. We call on everyone to respect the Supreme Court and place their trust in our institutions,” the statement read. “The impeachment process is a matter handled by the legislative and judicial branches, and we recognize their independence in carrying out their constitutional mandates.”
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
What Comes Next?
For now, the impeachment trial against Vice President Duterte will not proceed. But the possibility of renewed proceedings in 2026 remains open.
The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the delicate balance between legal safeguards and political accountability—and sets the stage for further legal and political battles in the months to come.
Jul 25, 2025
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