Overview

• Supreme Court’s unanimous 13-0 decision voided a fourth impeachment complaint lodged against Vice-President Sara Duterte, citing a constitutional provision barring more than one complaint per year.
• The ruling deprives the Senate of authority to hold an impeachment tribunal, effectively halting the trial process that had been set to resume after June’s procedural remand.
• President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. publicly refrained from intervening, emphasizing the executive branch’s inability to influence the judicial process.
• The court clarified that a new complaint may be filed after the one-year prohibition expires on February 6, 2026, leaving future proceedings possible.
• The decision strengthens her standing ahead of a potential 2028 presidential bid.