SC affirms nullification of VP Duterte impeachment

National

THE Supreme Court (SC) has unanimously upheld its July 2025 ruling declaring the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional.

In a 13-0 vote, the High Court rejected the House of Representatives’ motion for reconsideration, confirming that filing a fourth impeachment complaint within a year violates the Constitution’s ban on multiple impeachments against the same official in a 12-month period.

“The resolution is immediately executory. No further pleadings shall be allowed,” the SC said in its Jan. 28 decision.

The ruling, authored by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, clarified that while the impeachment complaint against Duterte was invalid, it does not absolve her of the alleged offenses outlined in the complaint, which included bribery, corruption, misuse of funds, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The constitutional dispute centered on when an impeachment is considered “initiated.” Four separate complaints had been filed: three in December 2024 and a fourth in February 2025, supported by 215 House members. The court ruled that the first complaint was not referred to the House Committee on Justice within the required period, invalidating all subsequent complaints.

The SC also emphasized that the House cannot determine the start of the constitutionally mandated period and must follow strict timelines for endorsing impeachment complaints.

Regarding impeachment procedures, the court noted two modes of initiation: referral to the justice committee by a House member or private individual, or endorsement by at least one-third of House members for Senate transmission. Both are allowed, but multiple complaints do not override the one-year constitutional restriction.

Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa did not participate in the decision, and Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh was on leave, a report by Inquirer.net said.(Jhon Mark A. Aboabo, USJR Comm Intern)