The Supreme Court En Banc unanimously ruled (15-0) that the House of Representatives’ Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte were unconstitutional, citing violations of due process and the one-year rule on impeachment complaints. In its 97-page decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the Court stated that the Senate cannot proceed with the case but clarified that it does not absolve Duterte of the charges. A new impeachment complaint can only be filed starting February 6, 2026. The ruling, which is immediately executory, emphasized that impeachment must adhere to constitutional principles, asserting that “the end does not justify the means.” Four impeachment complaints had been filed against Duterte between December 2024 and February 2025, with the fourth complaint transmitted to the Senate on February 5. Petitions challenging the impeachment’s constitutionality were filed by Duterte and Davao City-based lawyers led by Israelito Torreon. Duterte’s defense team hailed the decision as a reaffirmation of the rule of law, while Torreon’s law firm called it a triumph of due process and constitutional order. The Court underscored that impeachment, while political in nature, is a legal process subject to judicial review and must uphold fairness and due process. The decision reinforced that public office is a public trust and that participants in impeachment proceedings are as accountable as the subjects themselves. The Court stressed that impeachment cannot be used for political expediency and must reflect the people’s will. Article XI, Section 3(5) of the 1987 Constitution prohibits initiating impeachment proceedings against the same official more than once within a year. The Court affirmed its duty to ensure impeachment adheres to constitutional mandates, upholding the Rule of Just Law over political passions.
