Philippine Legislators Clash Over the Impeachment of Vice President Duterte
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte attends a ceremony with staff from the Philippine election commission at the Office of the Vice President in Manila, Philippines, February 3 2025.
The Philippine Senate has voted to archive the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte despite the earlier appeal of the House of Representatives to defer the voting and wait until the issue is resolved by the Supreme Court with finality.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives in February for 'betrayal of public trust' over her alleged anomalous use of confidential funds and conspiracy to assassinate the First Family. The case was transmitted to the Senate but the latter only tackled the impeachment during the last week of its term in June and remanded the issue back to the House of Representatives.
During this period, the Duterte camp petitioned the Supreme Court to look into the issue. On July 25, the Supreme Court ruled that the impeachment case against Duterte was unconstitutional based on a procedural flaw. The House of Representatives has appealed the decision and questioned the imposition of new rules for impeaching officials.
'If these rules had existed earlier, we would have followed them,' said the House of Representatives in a statement. 'But to invent them after the fact, and strike down a valid impeachment for not satisfying them, is not only unfair – it is constitutionally suspect.'
A spokesperson of the House of Representatives said that the Senate should consider the appeal before voting to dismiss the impeachment. 'We call on our dear Senators to exercise prudence and patience, and allow the judicial process to reach its rightful conclusion,' the spokesperson said.
But the Senate proceeded with the vote and cited the Supreme Court ruling to justify its action. 'No one, including the Senate, can substitute its opinion over the Court's in any matter concerning the Constitution,' a majority senator said in his explanation of vote.
Senate President Chiz Escudero said that the court decision should serve as a guide for legislators on how to properly proceed with the impeachment process. 'For the rule of law to prevail, the High Court must act as a compass, and not as a political cheerleader impartially applying the law by calling out violations not swayed by public opinion or political allegiance,' he said in his statement.
Escudero also castigated those who have ulterior motives in pursuing the impeachment. 'Let today's verdict be a stern and unequivocal warning to anyone who would dare use the Senate as their personal battering ram to further their personal political ambitions,' he added
In response to the Senate vote, House Speaker Martin Romualdez criticized the rushed dismissal of the impeachment complaint and defended the decision of House legislators to impeach Duterte. 'We have been met with personal attacks, sweeping accusations, and a narrative that seeks to reduce a solemn constitutional duty into mere power play,' he said in a statement. 'It undermines public trust in the very tools of democratic checks and balances.'
Some analysts believe the archiving of the impeachment is not equal to dismissal since there is a possibility for the Senate to revive the issue should the Supreme Court reverse its decision. But it's rare for Congress to resurrect an archived bill or issue and the majority vote in the Senate showed that Duterte has enough numbers to avoid conviction.
Public attention will now focus on the Supreme Court, on whether it will affirm or reverse its controversial ruling. Some legal experts opined that the ruling was based on erroneous facts which could give chance for the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision, especially if it calls for a public hearing and allows all parties to argue their case.
The Supreme Court ruling and the Senate vote have sparked protests and loud condemnations from various stakeholders, including former justices, legislators, and academic institutions. Anti-corruption advocates have bemoaned the new obstacles imposed by those in power to hold erring officials accountable.
Duterte and her supporters are framing the impeachment as a partisan move by those who wanted her disqualified from running in the 2028 election; but they conveniently disregard the fact that a broad range of groups and sectors have rallied to support the impeachment complaint as part of the people's demand to eradicate corruption in government.
The next flashpoint in Congress is the deliberations for the 2026 budget bill. Last year, Duterte refused to answer queries from legislators which delayed the passage of the budget of her office. Legislators can still refile the impeachment case against Duterte next year if the persistent corruption allegations are not adequately addressed.
Duterte scored a huge win in the Supreme Court and the Senate but it only heightened the clamor for truth and accountability. The impeachment may be shelved for now but the fight against corruption continues.
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