The Supreme Court of the Philippines has dismissed an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, declaring it unconstitutional. The ruling, issued on February 28, 2024, represents a significant legal victory for Duterte, who is viewed as a potential presidential candidate in the upcoming 2028 elections.
This impeachment complaint accused Duterte of misusing public funds, accumulating unusual wealth, and issuing threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and the House Speaker. Although the court’s decision does not exonerate her from the allegations, it effectively protects her political future by preventing a trial that could have resulted in a lifetime ban from holding office.
Duterte’s legal team argued that the impeachment process was politically motivated, especially given the ongoing tensions with President Marcos. In a statement following the ruling, her lawyers claimed, “This unanimous decision has once again upheld the rule of law and reinforced the constitutional limits against abuse of the impeachment process.”
In its ruling, the Supreme Court highlighted that Congress had violated a constitutional safeguard prohibiting more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official within a year. The court noted that more than 200 members of the lower house had endorsed this fourth impeachment complaint, despite three previous complaints remaining unaddressed.
According to Camille Ting, a spokesperson for the Supreme Court, “The articles of impeachment, which was the fourth complaint, violated the one-year period ban because there were three complaints that came ahead of it.” Consequently, the Senate lacked the authority to convene an impeachment tribunal, making the complaint invalid.
Despite the Supreme Court’s decision, President Marcos has distanced himself from the proceedings against his vice president, emphasizing that the executive branch cannot intervene in judicial matters. His office stated on February 28, 2024, that the ruling must be respected, a sentiment echoed by a spokesperson for the Senate.
While there was no immediate reaction from members of the House prosecution panel, a spokesperson for the lower house expressed respect for the court’s decision while asserting that their commitment to uphold truth and accountability remains steadfast. The Supreme Court has indicated that a new impeachment complaint could be filed against Duterte once the one-year ban expires.
This ruling comes at a pivotal moment in Philippine politics, as Sara Duterte is the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court for his controversial war on drugs. The outcome of this impeachment case may significantly influence Duterte’s political trajectory in a country where leadership transitions are closely monitored and deeply scrutinized.
