Philippine Top Court Blocks Impeachment Bid Against VP Duterte

Manila

The Philippine Supreme Court has halted an impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing a constitutional rule that prohibits multiple impeachment proceedings within the same year. This marks a legal victory for Duterte, who had faced accusations of misusing public funds and making threats against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

While the court clarified it was not clearing Duterte of the allegations, the ruling effectively delays any further impeachment efforts until February 2026. This reprieve could provide her with a crucial window to solidify support ahead of a potential presidential bid in 2028.

Duterte's impeachment was triggered by a controversial Facebook post last November, in which she implied that if she were killed, President Marcos would be too—a comment that fueled an already escalating rift between the former allies. Their alliance, formed during the 2022 "Uniteam" campaign, has since unraveled into a bitter feud.

Tensions intensified further after Sara’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was extradited to the Hague to face crimes against humanity charges over his deadly war on drugs. Despite these political headwinds, Duterte’s allies outperformed expectations in the 2025 Senate race, complicating any effort to convict her.

Impeachment in the Philippines remains politically volatile. Only one official, former Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012, has ever been convicted in such proceedings. With the Supreme Court largely composed of Duterte appointees, the latest ruling reflects how shifting political alliances and institutional loyalties continue to shape outcomes in the country’s fractious political landscape.