Philippines Senate Deliberates on Sara Duterte Impeachment Case
The Philippine Senate is currently in session, deliberating on the path forward for the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte. This follows a significant development on July 25, 2025, when the Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling declaring the Articles of Impeachment unconstitutional and void from the beginning.
The Supreme Court's Ruling:
Reason for the Ruling: The Supreme Court's decision was based on a key constitutional provision known as the "one-year bar," which states that "no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year."
Violation of the Rule: The court found that the House of Representatives had violated this rule. It ruled that three prior impeachment complaints against Duterte, which were logged between December 2024 and February 2025, constituted "impeachment proceedings," even though they were archived and not acted upon. As a result, the fourth impeachment complaint, which was subsequently passed by the House and transmitted to the Senate, was barred.
Impact of the Ruling: The Supreme Court's decision effectively nullified the impeachment proceedings. This means the Senate did not acquire jurisdiction to conduct an impeachment trial. However, the court did not absolve Duterte of the charges themselves, stating that any new impeachment complaint could only be filed after February 6, 2026.
The Current Senate Deliberation:
The Debate: Despite the Supreme Court's ruling, the Senate is now in a session to deliberate on how to proceed. A number of senators, including Rodante Marcoleta, are arguing that the Senate must abide by the Supreme Court's decision and immediately dismiss the impeachment case.
Counterarguments and Delays: Other senators are urging caution. They point out that the House of Representatives has filed a Motion for Reconsideration with the Supreme Court, seeking to reverse the ruling. Senators like Vicente "Tito" Sotto III have argued that an outright dismissal of the case would be premature while the Supreme Court's decision is still subject to appeal and not yet final. The Senate's current position is a reflection of its role as an independent institution that must weigh a constitutional ruling from the judiciary against its own constitutional powers in impeachment proceedings.
The outcome of the Senate's deliberation will determine the immediate fate of the impeachment case. While the Supreme Court has provided a clear legal path, the Senate's final decision will be a significant political and legal development in the Philippines.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
