The Philippines¡¯ Supreme Court on Friday said the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is unconstitutional, in a stunning victory for the embattled politician and rival of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The top court said the complaint didn¡¯t comply with the constitutional rule that only one impeachment proceeding may be initiated against the same official within one year.
Duterte was awaiting a trial in the country¡¯s Senate that could lead to barring her from public office if convicted. Her legal team welcomed the decision, saying it has ¡°once again upheld the rule of law and reinforced the constitutional limits against abuse of the impeachment process.¡±
The court said in a statement that the Senate ¡°could not acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings,¡± which suggests that the trial can¡¯t go ahead when Congress opens next week. In a separate statement, a spokesperson for the Senate said the chamber is ¡°duty-bound to respect the finality of rulings issued by the High Court.¡±
The vice president was impeached in February by the House of Representatives on accusations that include plotting to assassinate Marcos and misusing public funds. She denies allegations of wrongdoing.
¡°The articles of impeachment, which was the fourth complaint, violated the one-year period ban because there were three complaints that were ahead of it,¡± court spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting told reporters.
The court added in a statement that a new impeachment complaint can be filed starting Feb. 6 next year and ¡°is not absolving Vice President Duterte from any of the charges against her.¡±
The court statement said the decision was unanimous. Judges appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, the vice president¡¯s father, dominate the high court.
It¡¯s unlikely that another impeachment complaint will be filed again, said Bob Herrera-Lim, managing director of risk consultancy Teneo.
¡°The narrative that emerged from the midterms is that the Duterte family still has significant political support, and that voters may have tired of the battle between the Marcos and Duterte families as being the focus of politics,¡± he said.
Marcos is set to deliver an annual State of the Nation Address on Monday before lawmakers during the opening of the 20th Congress.
¡°We call on everyone to respect the Supreme Court and place their trust in our institutions,¡± Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
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