By CLAIRE MORALES TRUE, Managing Editor

MANILA – The Philippine Supreme Court has handed Vice President Sara Duterte a victory and temporary relief as it ruled unanimously that the fourth impeachment complaint against her was unconstitutional.

The High Court spokesman, Atty. Camille Ting, said the SC voted 13-0 to throw out the impeachment complaint with Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa inhibiting while Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh was on leave. The ruling’s ponente was Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, an appointee of President Benigno Noynoy Aquino.

“The SC 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 in all stages of the impeachment process,” Ting said in a press briefing.

Due to this, Ting said the Senate cannot acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings.

“However, the Court said it is not absolving Vice President Duterte from any of the charges against her. But any subsequent impeachment complaint may only be filed starting February 6, 2026,” she said.

Duterte’s team welcomed the ruling emphasizing that they have pointed to the infirmities of the complaint filed by the House of Representatives.

“This unanimous Decision has once again upheld the rule of law and reinforced the constitutional limits against abuse of the impeachment process,” Duterte’s team said in a statement.

“The decision of the Honorable Court affirms what we had maintained from the outset — that the 4th impeachment complaint is constitutionally infirm,” Duterte’s defense team said in a statement provided to media by spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa. 

Malacanang, meanwhile, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would defer to the High Court’s ruling and called on the public to “respect the Supreme Court and place their trust in our institutions.”

The ruling drew mixed reactions from the Senate which was supposed to conduct the trial of VP Duterte as the Senate Impeachment Court.

In the House of Representatives, which filed the fourth impeachment complaint before the Senate and “dismissed” or set a side three earlier complaints, the lawmakers were also divided with some expressing surprise at the SC decision.

The Senate impeachment court said it is “duty-bound” to respect the finality of rulings issued by the Supreme Court, said its spokesman, lawyer Regie Tongol.

Tongol said the SC decision affirms impeachment court’s stance that “constitutional issues surrounding the Articles required clarity before trial proceedings could commence.”

Some senators, however, said the Senate Impeachment Court may still convene and act on the High Court’s decision which other senators lauded.

“The SC 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 in all stages of the impeachment process,” Ting said in a press briefing.

Due to this, Ting said the Senate cannot acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings.

“However, the Court said it is not absolving Vice President Duterte from any of the charges against her. But any subsequent impeachment complaint may only be filed starting February 6, 2026,” she said.

The lower house of the Philippine parliament had voted to impeach Duterte in February after she was accused of misusing public funds and threatening to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

But a court spokesperson told reporters on Friday the impeachment vote violated a constitutional ban on having multiple impeachment proceedings in a year.

At a press conference on Friday, the court said it was not absolving Duterte of the charges she faces. But the ruling means she has been granted a reprieve from possible ousting, at least until February 2026.