Joselito Malig

Article (news)

SARA DUTERTE 

Jamaine Punzalan

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

Agence France-Presse

<p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> - The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, declared the articles of impeachment transmitted by the House of Representatives to the Senate as unconstitutional.</p><p>The articles of impeachment violated the Constitutional provision against more than one impeachment complaints within a year against an impeachable official.</p><p>“In a unanimous decision today, July 25, 2025, the Supreme Court en banc declared the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional, noting that it is barred by the year rule under Article 11 Section 3 Paragraph 5 of the Constitution and that it violates the right to due process enshrined in the Bill of Rights,” said SC spokesperson Atty. Ting.</p><p>“Therefore the Senate could not acquire jurisdciction over the impeachment proceedings, however the court said it is not absolving Vice President Duterte in any of the charges against her but any subsequent impeachment complaint may only be filed starting February 6, 2026,” Ting added.</p><p>The Supreme Court decision, penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, noted that three impeachment complaints were filed by private individuals on December 2, 4 and 19, 2024.</p><p>The fourth impeachment complaint, approved by more than one third of representatives in the 19th Congress, was transmitted to the Senate as articles of impeachment on February 5, 2025. </p><p>“The Court took note that the HOR in the 19th Congress did not act on the first three endorsed complaints, which were considered &#x27;terminated or dismissed&#x27; upon the adjournment of the HOR,” Ting said.</p><p>“The respondent in the impeachment complaint should have been given a chance to be heard on the Articles of Impeachment and the supporting evidence to prove the charges prior to its transmittal to the Senate, despite the number of endorsements from House members.&quot;</p><p>The court meantime released guidelines on how to follow due process on impeachment proceedings.</p><p>Included in the guidelines is the provision that the respondent should be given the chance to be heard on the articles of impeachment.</p><p>The court also addressed the concept of sui generis or a class of its own, stressing that the impeachment is not purely a political proceeding.</p><p>“This means that the Bill of Rights, especially the due process clause and the right to speedy disposition of cases, applies to the entire impeachment process,” Ting said.</p><p>While the decision of the Supreme Court is immediately executory, according to Ting, respondents House of Representatives and the Senate can file a motion for reconsideration.</p><p>The lower House charged Duterte in early February with graft, corruption and an alleged assassination plot against one-time ally and former running mate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><p>A conviction, which requires the support of two-thirds of the Senate&#x27;s 24 members, would have meant her removal as vice president and a permanent ban from public office.</p><p>Friday&#x27;s ruling was in response to a petition filed by Duterte&#x27;s team in February, which requested a temporary restraining order.</p><p>The filing argued that a trio of complaints logged against Duterte in the House -- voted on at the committee level -- had constituted impeachment proceedings.</p><p>Duterte&#x27;s defense team said the decision affirmed their stance that the fourth impeachment complaint was constitutionally infirm. </p><p>&quot;This unanimous Decision has once again upheld the rule of law and reinforced the constitutional limits against abuse of the impeachment process,&quot; Duterte&#x27;s lawyers said.</p><p>&quot;We remain prepared to address the allegations at the proper time and before the appropriate forum,&quot; they added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;JUDICIAL INTERFERENCE&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Following the decision, the House said it would &quot;exhaust all remedies to protect the independence of Congress and preserve the sanctity of our constitutional role.&quot; </p><p>&quot;This is not defiance. This is constitutional fidelity,&quot; said House spokesperson Princess Abante. </p><p>She said that allowing &quot;judicial interference&quot; in the impeachment process &quot;risks undermining the very principle of checks and balances.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Impeachment is a political act rooted in the people’s will—no legal technicality should silence it,&quot; she said.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Senate said it was &quot;duty-bound to respect the finality of rulings issued by the High Court.&quot;</p><p>The Senate in June had sent back the impeachment case back to the House, questioning its constitutionality.</p><p>&quot;This [Supreme Court] decision affirms the careful and deliberate posture taken by the Impeachment Court—that constitutional issues surrounding the Articles required clarity before trial proceedings could commence,&quot; said Senate impeachment court spokesperson Regie Tongol.</p><p>&quot;The Court’s ruling validates the prudence and restraint exercised by the Senate majority in recognizing those legal uncertainties from the outset,&quot; he said in a statement.</p><p>He said the Senate would wait for the formal transmittal of the Supreme Court’s decision and any related guidance that may affect the impeachment court’s jurisdiction.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT LAWMAKERS SAID</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, who was supposed to join the House prosecution team, said the impeachment process had &quot;followed the constitution&quot; and that there was &quot;no violation of due process—only a demand to present the truth to the Filipino people.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sa desisyong ito [ng Korte Supremea], talo ang taumbayan. Talo ang pananagutan,&quot; he said in a statement. </p><p>&quot;Kasama ang taumbayan, hindi tayo titigil manawagang panagutin ang dapat managot. We will continue to work with civil society and reform-minded leaders to defend our democracy and ensure that truth and justice prevail,&quot; he added. </p><p>Sen. Bam Aquino called on his fellow senators to hold a caucus on the court decision that &quot;ignored&quot; their constitutional duty. </p><p>&quot;Matibay ang aking paninindigan na dapat ipagpatuloy ang impeachment trial. Bilang co-equal branch, malinaw ang mandato ng konstitusyon at kapangyarihan ng senado, kaya nararapat na irespesto ang proseso ng impeachment,&quot; he said. </p><p>Meanwhile, Malacanang called on everyone &quot;to respect the Supreme Court and place their trust in our institutions.&quot; </p><p>&quot;The impeachment process is a matter handled by the legislative and judicial branches, and we recognize their independence in carrying out their constitutional mandates,&quot; said Palace Press Officer Claire Castro. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2zNlgNxqTdU??si=h_IUijIRMLWtnNzX&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Supreme Court on Friday blocked the impending Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying it violated a constitutional provision against multiple impeachment proceedings in the same year.</p>

The Supreme Court on Friday blocked the impending Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying it violated a constitutional provision against multiple impeachment proceedings in the same year.

Supreme Court blocks VP Sara Duterte's impeachment trial

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Supreme Court blocks VP Sara Duterte's impeachment trial

Jamaine Punzalan,

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News,

Agence France-Presse

Published July 25, 2025 04:01 PM PHT

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Updated July 31, 2025 06:22 PM PHT

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