Senate Archives Sara Duterte Impeachment After Supreme Court Unconstitutional Ruling

The impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte was archived by the Philippine Senate following a Supreme Court ruling that declared the complaint unconstitutional due to procedural issues, specifically the one-year rule and violations of due process. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized that the Supreme Court's decision did not address the merits of the case but focused solely on procedural faults, leaving the Senate to decide independently without presidential intervention. Vice President Duterte called on the public to respect the Senate's role and majority decision to archive the complaint while preparing her legal team for possible future developments, including a motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives. Senate discussions were divided, with some senators supporting the archiving and others urging caution or opposing dismissal without evidence. Senator Imee Marcos also urged respect for the Supreme Court's ruling and stressed that the Senate must comply with the decision in its entirety. The complaint stemmed from allegations related to misuse of confidential funds, which Duterte has denied, and the case's shelving reflects ongoing political and legal maneuvering within the country's democratic institutions.