Philippine Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is unconstitutional, handing the embattled official a temporary legal reprieve.
Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting announced that the High Court voted 13-0 to dismiss the complaint, citing the constitutional “one-year bar rule” on filing multiple impeachment proceedings. Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa recused himself from the deliberations, while Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh was on leave. The decision was penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, an appointee of the late President Benigno Aquino III.
“The Supreme Court has ruled that the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is barred by the one-year rule and that due process must be observed at every stage of the impeachment process,” said Ting during a press briefing.
Ting clarified that while the Court’s decision halts the current impeachment proceedings, it does not clear Duterte of the allegations lodged against her. A new complaint, if any, can only be filed beginning February 6, 2026.
As a result of the ruling, the Senate, which was preparing to convene as an impeachment court, no longer has jurisdiction over the case. Senate Impeachment Court spokesperson Atty. Regie Tongol confirmed the chamber would abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“The Supreme Court’s decision affirms the Senate Impeachment Court’s position that constitutional questions surrounding the Articles of Impeachment needed to be resolved before trial proceedings could commence,” Tongol said.
Duterte’s legal team welcomed the Court’s ruling, emphasizing that the complaint was fraught with legal defects from the beginning.
“This unanimous decision upholds the rule of law and reinforces constitutional safeguards against the abuse of the impeachment process,” said Atty. Michael Poa, Duterte’s legal spokesperson. “It validates what we have consistently maintained—that the fourth impeachment complaint is constitutionally infirm.”
Malacañang also issued a statement saying President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. respects the Supreme Court’s ruling and urged the public to do the same.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions in both chambers of Congress. Some lawmakers in the House of Representatives, which filed the most recent complaint, expressed shock at the Court’s decision. The House had previously dismissed or set aside three earlier impeachment attempts before voting to move forward with the fourth complaint in February. Duterte was accused of misusing public funds and making threatening remarks toward President Marcos.
While some senators welcomed the Court’s decision as a reaffirmation of legal boundaries, others insisted that the Senate Impeachment Court may still need to formally address the ruling in its plenary.
Despite the legal win, the vice president remains politically vulnerable, as the Court reiterated that she is not cleared of the allegations. However, any future impeachment complaint must now wait until at least early 2026.
This ruling is expected to have major implications not only for Vice President Duterte but also for future impeachment processes in the Philippines, underscoring the need for strict adherence to constitutional rules and due process.
