Rowegie Abanto

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte attend an event in Tondo, Manila on July 18, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte 

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17683657877551768365785026.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte attend an event in Tondo, Manila on July 18, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Can Congress tackle impeachment proceedings against both President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte?</p><p>The prospect of a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/5/house-impeaches-vp-sara-duterte-1551">fresh impeachment complaint</a> looms <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/5/house-impeaches-vp-sara-duterte-1551"></a>against Duterte, with February 6, the date that the Supreme Court said proceedings can be initiated against her again, drawing near.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/12/palace-defends-marcos-jr-s-pivot-from-hands-off-policy-on-duterte-s-impeachment-1505">Palace defends Marcos Jr.’s pivot from ‘hands-off’ policy on Duterte’s impeachment</a></div><p>Marcos, who had argued against impeaching Duterte, could meanwhile also face an impeachment case, for alleged betrayal of public trust in relation to the national budget, according to Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice of the House minority bloc.</p><p>Asked whether Congress can handle two impeachment cases, Rep. Chel Diokno of Akbayan party-list — one of the groups that previously filed an impeachment complaint against Duterte — argued Wednesday that handling the potential complaints is a &quot;clear constitutional duty&quot; imposed on the House of Representatives and the Senate.</p><p>Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment. If the lower chamber impeaches an official, the Senate has the sole power to try and decide whether the public servant is guilty or not.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/13/sotto-says-to-act-forthwith-on-possible-impeachment-vs-marcos-duterte-1420">Sotto says to act &#x27;forthwith&#x27; on possible impeachment vs Marcos, Duterte</a></div><p>&quot;Any kind of complaints that will be filed must, of course, go through the crucible of analysis and must withstand our scrutiny in terms of whether they have sufficient basis to really pursue an impeachment case,&quot; Diokno also said.</p><p>Meanwhile, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president and constitutional law expert Domingo Cayosa said Tuesday there is no constitutional prohibition against the simultaneous impeachment proceedings for the top two leaders of the country.</p><p>&quot;Puwede yan na sunod-sunod o magkakasabay,&quot; Cayosa said.</p><p>&quot;Yung scheduling lang kung kailan pag-uusapan o ia-assess ng Committee on Justice at pagbobotohan ng plenaryo ng lower house, nasa kanila na &#x27;yon,&quot; he said.</p><p>Impeached officials retain their positions unless convicted by the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.</p><div><strong>SUPREME COURT URGED TO RESOLVE DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT CASE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Cayosa and Diokno also urged the Supreme Court to finally resolve the motions for reconsideration on its decision <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/25/supreme-court-duterte-impeachment-articles-unconstitutional-1601">striking down the February 2025 impeachment</a> of Duterte.</p><p>The high court in July declared the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/5/house-impeaches-vp-sara-duterte-1551">articles of impeachment transmitted by the House</a> to the Senate as unconstitutional, saying it flouted the constitutional prohibition against multiple impeachment proceedings against the same official in a single year.</p><p>But the court has yet to resolve the motions for reconsideration on its decision to block the impeachment of Duterte, nearly six months since that decision was handed down.</p><p>Diokno said that the court&#x27;s resolution on the case would have a &quot;big effect&quot; on all future impeachment cases.</p><p>The House of Representatives and other impeachment filers argued that the court had committed &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/4/house-appeals-supreme-court-ruling-on-sara-duterte-impeachment-1610">factual errors</a>&quot; in the ruling and denied that Duterte&#x27;s right to due process had been violated.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/13/sotto-says-to-act-forthwith-on-possible-impeachment-vs-marcos-duterte-1420">Sotto says to act &#x27;forthwith&#x27; on possible impeachment vs Marcos, Duterte</a></div><p>&quot;Maganda siguro kalampagin natin ang mga justices ng Supreme Court because they have to be accountable also to the people,&quot; Cayosa said.</p><p>&quot;Hindi natin maintindihan kung bakit hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ni-resolve yan. Napaka-controversial pa naman. Kailangan yan para maayos yung mga parating pang impeachment kung meron man,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><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/mJ5llH49DTM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Can Congress tackle impeachment proceedings against both President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte?</p>

Can Congress tackle impeachment proceedings against both President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte?

Can Congress tackle the possible impeachment of Marcos and Duterte? Lawyers weigh in

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Can Congress tackle the possible impeachment of Marcos and Duterte? Lawyers weigh in

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 14, 2026 01:27 PM PHT

|

Updated January 20, 2026 12:28 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Impeachment

Chel Diokno

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Domingo Cayosa

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.