The Supreme Court has affirmed with finality its ruling declaring the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional, effectively confirming that the Senate never acquired jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings.
Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting said the justices unanimously denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives, which sought to overturn the earlier decision.
The House impeached Duterte in 2025 over allegations of graft, corruption, and an alleged assassination plot against former ally and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
However, Duterte’s defense argued that three earlier complaints filed in the House—though acted upon only at the committee level—already constituted impeachment proceedings.
The High Court agreed, ruling that proceeding with another impeachment within the same year violated the Constitution’s one-year bar on multiple impeachment attempts. As a result, the Senate trial was blocked.
The Court noted that a new impeachment complaint may only be initiated after February 6, 2026.
Bicol Saro Partylist Representative Terry Ridon, chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts, acknowledged the ruling in a statement.
“However, once the one-year bar lapses on 6 February, the House of Representatives of the 20th Congress will be prepared to receive and act on any new impeachment complaints filed against the vice president,” he said.
Members of the Makabayan bloc have also signaled support for filing a fresh impeachment complaint once the constitutional prohibition expires.