Jamaine Punzalan

Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference, February 7, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

20250207-sara duterte-impeachment-presscon

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday thanked her lawyers and supporters following a Supreme Court ruling against what she dubbed as the House of Representatives’ “abuse” of the impeachment process. </p><p>The SC en banc unanimously<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/29/supreme-court-affirms-sara-duterte-impeachment-unconstitutional-1427"> denied with finality</a> the motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives against its earlier ruling that the articles of impeachment against Duterte were unconstitutional. </p><p>“Unang pasalamat ko sa Diyos… Pangalawang pasasalamat ko ay sa mga abogado na nagtulong-tulong para kuwestyunin yung pag-abuso ng proseso ng impeachment ng House of Representatives,” Duterte said. </p><p>“Pangatlo ay yung pasalamat ko sa lahat ng mga kababayan na patuloy na naniniwala at nagtitiwala sa akin,” she added. </p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=315&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F2114964262595667%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>in a chance interview in the Hague, the Netherlands on January 29 after her visit to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court detention center.</p><p>When asked if the patriarch Duterte had been informed about the decision, the Vice President said she chose not to mention it during her latest visit.</p><p>“Kanina, hindi ko na binanggit sa kanya yung denial ng motion for reconsideration doon sa kaso dahil ayaw ko na pag-usapan yung impeachment. Mas mabuti na pag-usapan ang mga bagay na mas may relevance sa buhay natin at sa bayan kaysa doon sa impeachment,” she said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘PREPARING’ FOR FRESH IMPEACH MOVES </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The House of Representatives impeached Duterte in 2025, charging the vice president with graft, corruption and an alleged assassination plot against one-time ally and former running mate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><p>But her defense team filed a petition arguing that a trio of earlier complaints logged against her in the House — but voted on only at the committee level -- had constituted impeachment proceedings.</p><p>The Supreme Court agreed and blocked the Senate impeachment trial of Duterte, saying it violated a constitutional provision against multiple impeachment proceedings within a single year.</p><p>It said a fresh impeachment attempt could be introduced by February 6, 2026.</p><div><iframe width="827" height="465" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SnFn1IiHaq4" title="Full announcement: Supreme Court affirms Sara Duterte impeachment unconstitutional | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Duterte said her lawyers were preparing for the possible fresh impeachment bid against her.</p><p>“’Yung mga lawyers, they’ve been preparing. They were hired as early as fourth quarter of 2023, the moment that one of the members of the House of Representatives announced that they will file a case against me. At na kumpirma ko yun sa loob ng opisina ng Speaker noon,” she said.</p><p>“At hanggang ngayon, tuloy-tuloy pa naman yung mga abogado and legal team. And nung nakaraang taon, bago mag-Christmas break, ay napag-usapan din namin ‘yung paghahanda sa impeachment,” the younger Duterte added.</p><p>Duterte surmised that impeachment complaints would be filed against her until the end of her term in 2028.</p><p>“Hindi lang ngayong taon na ito, dahil sigurado kapag hindi sila nakapag-file ngayong taon, susunod na taon at hanggang matapos ang aking termino, ganoon ang gagawin nila -- makapag-file sila ng kaso impeachment man o hindi,” she said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘HINAY-HINAY LANG SA CELEBRATION’ </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Asked by a supporter for a message to Filipinos who were “elated” with the SC decision, the Vice President said, “Hinay-hinay lang sa celebration.”</p><p>“Don’t drink and drive. Mga kababayan, mag-celebrate kayo pero celebrate responsibly. Huwag ubusin ang pera sa bisyo at huwag magmaneho nang lasing,” she said in apparent jest.</p><p>“At kung maaari ay diyan na lang kayo sa mga bahay ninyo mag-celebrate, or mag-celebrate kayo online. Mas mura yun—internet lang ang kapital ninyo, data lang,” she added.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday thanked her lawyers and supporters following a Supreme Court ruling against what she dubbed as the House of Representatives’ “abuse” of the impeachment process. </p>

Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday thanked her lawyers and supporters following a Supreme Court ruling against what she dubbed as the House of Representatives’ “abuse” of the impeachment process.

Sara Duterte thankful for Supreme Court ruling vs House ‘abuse’ of impeachment process; lawyers ‘preparing’ for fresh ouster bid

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Sara Duterte thankful for Supreme Court ruling vs House ‘abuse’ of impeachment process; lawyers ‘preparing’ for fresh ouster bid

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 30, 2026 10:02 AM PHT

|

Updated Jan 30, 2026 10:46 AM PHT

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Sara Duterte

impeachment

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