The Supreme Court (SC) barred the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing a due process violation that rendered the move unconstitutional.
In a press briefing, SC Spokesperson lawyer Camille Sue Mae L. Ting said: “The SC has ruled that the House impeachment complaint versus VP Sara Duterte is barred by the one-year rule and that due process or fairness applies in all stages of the impeachment process.”
Ting said: “The Court said it is not absolving Vice President Duterte from any of the charges against her, but any subsequent impeachment complaint may only be filed starting Feb. 6, 2026.”
Under the Constitution, impeachment proceedings cannot be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year.
Ting also said quoting from the SC ruling: “Our fundamental law is clear, the end does not justify the means… there is a right way to do the right things at the right time.”
With the declaration that the articles of impeachment against the Vice President is unconstitutional on due process grounds, “the Senate cannot acquire jurisdiction,” she also said.
A copy of the SC ruling was not available as of posting time.
Last February, the Vice President asked the SC to nullify for alleged constitutional violation the impeachment complaint that was filed against her by the House of Representatives before the Senate for trial.
The Vice President asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the House from proceeding with the impeachment trial and for the Senate to desist from acting on the complaint.
She also asked the SC that “after proper proceedings, issue a final injunction, nullify and set aside the Fourth Impeachment Complaint filed on February 5, 2025, declare the One-Year Bar to be applicable from the filing of the First Impeachment Complaint, declare the Fourth Impeachment Complaint to be violative of the One-Year Bar under Section 3(5), Article XI of the Constitution and therefore prohibited, and consequently, enjoin respondent Senate or any of its members or representatives from acting on the Fourth Impeachment Complaint in any way.”
Another petition against the impeachment was filed by several lawyers, led by Esraelito P. Torreon, and residents of Davao City.
Both petitions were ordered consolidated by the SC, also in its July 8 resolution.
The Senate, as the impeachment court, has yet to start trial on the impeachment complaint.
