Philippine Senate Archives Sara Duterte Impeachment Complaint

The Philippine Senate voted 19-4-1 to archive the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, effectively halting the proceedings for now, following a Supreme Court ruling declaring the impeachment unconstitutional. Vice President Duterte urged respect for the Senate's decision and dismissed allegations of traveling without authorization, while her legal team remains prepared for potential future developments. Senate President Francis Escudero and allies framed the archiving as a necessary step given the Supreme Court's ruling, though critics argue that the Senate surrendered its constitutional role and prematurely ended the process. House Speaker Martin Romualdez criticized the Senate's move as a "rushed burial" of the impeachment, emphasizing that the House's motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court remains pending and that the impeachment complaint was properly filed. The political context includes the Duterte family's continued influence, with recent elections bolstering their position, and Vice President Duterte's ambitions to succeed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The archiving marks a significant political victory for Duterte amidst allegations of public trust violations and threats against political figures.