MANILA: The Philippines’ top court blocked the impending Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday (Jul 25), saying it violated a constitutional provision against multiple impeachment proceedings within a single year.
The 13-0 ruling came just days before the Senate was to begin its new session, with the vice president’s political future hanging in the balance.
Widely expected to run for president in 2028, a Senate trial conviction would have barred Duterte permanently from public office.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte in early February, charging the vice president with graft, corruption and an alleged assassination plot against one-time ally and former running mate President Ferdinand Marcos.
But her defence 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.
On Friday, the court agreed.
“The Supreme Court has ruled that the House impeachment complaint versus VP Sara Duterte is barred by the one-year rule and that due process or fairness applies during all stages of the impeachment process,” court spokeswoman Camille Ting told reporters.
“There is a right way to do the right things at the right time,” Ting said, adding that a fresh impeachment attempt could be introduced, but not before Feb 6, 2026.
Duterte’s defence team welcomed the decision, saying the court had “upheld the rule of law and reinforced the constitutional limits against abuse of the impeachment process”.
