Supreme Court Declares Articles of Impeachment Against VP Sara duterte Unconstitutional, Senate Awaits Deliberation

MANILA,‍ Philippines – The ⁢Supreme ⁢Court has unanimously⁢ declared the Articles of Impeachment filed ⁣against Vice President Sara Duterte as unconstitutional, ⁢citing violations of due process. The landmark ruling, though, does not absolve the Vice President of the⁢ charges, but effectively halts any new ⁣impeachment proceedings against her until february⁣ 6, 2026.

SC ruling and Its Implications

The High Court’s decision stems from a petition⁢ filed by ⁤Vice President Duterte and lawyer Israelito Torreon,among others,who sought to nullify the Articles of Impeachment. SC spokesperson Camille ting ⁤clarified that while ⁣the ruling addresses the procedural unconstitutionality of the current impeachment articles, it does not preclude future complaints. Any subsequent impeachment complaint can only be filed after the specified date.following the proclamation of the supreme Court’s decision,Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer,Senator Francis Tolentino,stated that the Senate is “duty-bound” to respect the⁣ finality of the High Court’s rulings. “The Senate, sitting as an Impeachment Court, has always acted in deference to the Constitution and the rule of law. As a co-equal branch of government, we are⁢ duty-bound ⁤to respect‍ the finality of⁢ rulings issued by the High Court,” he ‍said in a Viber message to reporters.

Divergent⁣ Views ⁢Emerge Among Senators

Despite the Senate’s stated obligation to respect⁢ the Supreme Court’s decision, senators have expressed contrasting opinions on how to proceed. Some lawmakers believe the Senate can still choose to move forward with the impeachment trial, asserting its “exclusive power” ⁣in impeachment matters.

Constitutional law expert Domingo ⁣”Egon” ⁤Cayosa weighed in on the matter, ‍suggesting that the Senate might still opt to proceed with ⁢the trial. This stance highlights a potential debate within the legislative body regarding the interpretation and application of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Background of the Impeachment Complaints

The impeachment proceedings against Vice President duterte were initiated following the filing of three impeachment complaints in⁤ December 2024. These complaints were primarily linked to allegations concerning the misuse of confidential⁣ funds. A fourth impeachment⁢ complaint, which garnered the endorsement of over one-third of⁤ the lawmakers in⁢ the House of Representatives, was ⁢afterward transmitted to the Senate.

In response to the verified impeachment complaint filed against her, Vice President Duterte had previously entered a “not guilty” plea, dismissing the complaint as a mere “scrap of paper.”⁤ The Supreme Court’s recent decision now casts a significant shadow over the future of these impeachment efforts.