MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court of the Philippines unanimously dismissed the Articles of Impeachment filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, declaring them unconstitutional. In a 13-0 vote, the justices ruled that the complaint violated the one-year bar on multiple impeachment proceedings, as stipulated under Article XI, Section 3, Paragraph 5 of the 1987 Constitution. The Court also concluded that the process infringed on Duterte’s right to due process.
Court spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting announced the decision in a press briefing, stating that the Senate could not acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings due to the constitutional violations. The ruling was penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa recused himself from the case, while Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh was on leave.
The impeachment complaint, filed earlier this year, alleged irregularities in the use of confidential public funds and other forms of misconduct. Vice President Duterte has denied all allegations and, through her office, welcomed the Court’s ruling. She reaffirmed her commitment to upholding legal processes and continuing her duties as prescribed by the Constitution.
While the Supreme Court’s decision halts the current impeachment process, it clarified that future complaints may still be filed, provided they comply with constitutional requirements. Legal experts note that the ruling strengthens procedural safeguards within the country’s impeachment framework while acknowledging the possibility of future accountability mechanisms.
With the legal challenge now dismissed, Vice President Duterte will continue to serve in her current capacity. Her defense team praised the ruling, calling it a reaffirmation of constitutional limits intended to prevent abuse of the impeachment process. “The decision of the Honorable Court affirms what we had maintained from the outset—that the fourth impeachment complaint is constitutionally infirm,” the panel said in a statement released by spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa. “This unanimous decision has once again upheld the rule of law and reinforced the constitutional limits against abuse of the impeachment process,” it added. The defense team also emphasized that it remains prepared to address any future allegations “at the proper time and before the appropriate forum.”
