The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously ruled that the impeachment complaint by the House of Representatives against Vice President Sara Duterte was unlawful.

“In a unanimous decision today, July 25, 2025, the Supreme Court en banc declared the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional,” SC spokesperson Camille Ting said.

“The Supreme Court has ruled that the House impeachment complaint versus Vice President Sara Duterte is barred by the one-year rule and that due process or fairness applies during all stages of the impeachment,” she said.

Since the SC ruled the impeachment complaints against Duterte was null and void, the Senate did not acquire jurisdiction as an impeachment court.

The House sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate on February 5, 2025 even as three other complaints were filed before the Lower Chamber on December.

Ting said the SC did not absolve Duterte from the allegations against her, including culpable violation of the Constitution and illegal use of confidential funds, but ''any impeachment complaint filed against her can only be done on Feb. 6, 2026.''

The Palace called on ''everyone to respect the Supreme Court and place their trust in our instutitions.''

House spokesperson Princess Abante said the prosecution team will review the SC decision and decide if a motion of reconsideration will be filed before the Supreme Court.

Duterte's lawers said they welcomed the SC decision. ''(It) affirms what we had maintained from the outset- that the 4th impeachment complaint is constitutionally infirm.''

The SC decision came before the 20th Congress was to open in July 28. The Senate was expected to resume impeachment proceedings which it began last June a few days before the 19th Congress adjourned sine die. DMS