Philippine Supreme Court Halts VP Sara Duterte's Impeachment Trial
The Philippine Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision today, July 25, 2025, ruled that the impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte was unconstitutional. This pivotal ruling effectively halts the scheduled impeachment trial that was set to begin in the Senate.
The High Court's decision hinges on two primary constitutional violations:
Grounds for Unconstitutionality:
"One-Year Rule" Violation: The Supreme Court primarily cited a breach of Article XI, Section 3(5) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. This provision explicitly states that "no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year."
The Court found that the House of Representatives received at least four separate impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte between December 2024 and February 2025. Even though only one complaint was eventually transmitted to the Senate, the Court determined that the initiation of multiple complaints within that single one-year period violated this constitutional safeguard.
The Supreme Court clarified that the one-year bar begins from the moment an impeachment complaint is dismissed or is no longer viable. In this specific case, three earlier complaints were deemed "archived and therefore terminated or dismissed" on February 5, 2025. Consequently, no new complaint could constitutionally be initiated until after February 6, 2026.
Due Process Violation: The Court also asserted that due process, or fairness, must be upheld at every stage of the impeachment process. It concluded that the Articles of Impeachment violated due process because the draft and its supporting evidence were not made available to Vice President Duterte. This denial deprived her of the fundamental opportunity to be heard by the members of the House of Representatives before they officially endorsed the complaint.
Implications of the Ruling:
Trial Halted: As a direct consequence of this ruling, the Senate cannot acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings. Therefore, the scheduled impeachment trial against Vice President Duterte will not proceed.
No Absolution of Charges: It is crucial to note that the Supreme Court explicitly stated its ruling does not absolve Vice President Duterte of the allegations made against her. Any future determination of these charges can only occur through another constitutionally compliant impeachment process, followed by a trial and potential conviction by the Senate.
Future Impeachment Attempts: Due to the "one-year bar" rule, any new impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte cannot be initiated until after February 6, 2026.
Political Context: This impeachment attempt unfolded amidst a noticeable and growing rift between Vice President Duterte and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., despite their 2022 unity ticket. Vice President Duterte has consistently asserted that the impeachment efforts were politically motivated, particularly given her strong standing as a potential contender for the 2028 presidential elections.
The Allegations:
While the Supreme Court's ruling focused on procedural and constitutional technicalities, the impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte included various serious allegations, such as:
Misuse and malversation of confidential funds allocated to both the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Allegations of threatening to harm President Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and the House Speaker.
Charges of graft and corruption.
Allegations of betrayal of public trust.
Claims of amassing unexplained wealth and failing to fully disclose all properties in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
This Supreme Court ruling marks a significant legal and political victory for Vice President Sara Duterte, granting her a reprieve from impeachment proceedings for at least the next year.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
