Vice President Sara Duterte scored a legal victory on Friday after the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the impeachment proceedings against her were unconstitutional, citing violations of both due process and the one-year bar on filing multiple impeachment cases.
The high court’s decision came in response to a petition filed by Duterte, along with her lawyer Israelito Torreon and others, seeking to void the Articles of Impeachment endorsed by over 200 lawmakers in the House of Representatives earlier this year.
SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting clarified that while the Court ruled on procedural grounds, it is not clearing the Vice President of the serious accusations she faces. “However, 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 February 6, 2026,” Ting said.
The Articles of Impeachment filed on February 5 accused Duterte of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and graft and corruption, among other high crimes. Duterte denied the charges, calling the complaint a mere “scrap of paper.”
Reacting to the ruling, Duterte’s legal team expressed relief and reaffirmed their confidence in the Constitution’s safeguards. “This unanimous Decision has once again upheld the rule of law and reinforced the constitutional limits against abuse of the impeachment process,” read a statement from her defense, released by spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa.
They emphasized that while the case has been dismissed, they remain ready to respond to the allegations “at the proper time and before the appropriate forum.”
The Supreme Court’s decision has effectively paused any impeachment attempts until at least 2026, allowing Duterte more political breathing room amid rising tensions.
