MANILA, Philippines — July 26, 2025 — Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed deep disappointment on Saturday over the Supreme Court’s decision to declare the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional, saying the ruling delays accountability and weakens a vital democratic safeguard.
“It’s unfair to ask the public to wait another year just to hold someone accountable,” Hontiveros said in an ambush interview. “The Supreme Court should have considered the time, effort, and resources already spent just to properly initiate this impeachment process.”
The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday unanimously ruled that the impeachment complaints against Duterte violated the one-year bar rule, which prohibits more than one impeachment complaint from being filed against the same official within a 12-month period.
The High Court clarified that the House of Representatives failed to act on the first three complaints before Congress adjourned, which, under parliamentary rules, effectively rendered them dismissed or terminated. Thus, the fourth complaint — which was formally endorsed and transmitted to the Senate — was deemed to have breached the one-year rule.
Hontiveros, however, called the ruling “shocking” and said it undermines the constitutional role of the Senate to try impeachment cases.
“It disturbs me deeply. It’s disheartening to see a decision that blocks the Senate from fulfilling a duty explicitly assigned to us by the Constitution,” she said.
Filed in December 2024, the four impeachment complaints accused Vice President Duterte of allegedly misusing more than ₱600 million in confidential funds. The final complaint gained significant traction after it was endorsed by over a third of House members, triggering its referral to the Senate for trial.
Hontiveros warned that the SC ruling could set a dangerous precedent by imposing overly rigid procedural interpretations that may hinder future impeachment efforts.
“Why would they say the one-year rule was violated, when in our understanding, only one complaint was acted upon and transmitted to the Senate?” she questioned.
Despite the setback, Hontiveros confirmed that a motion for reconsideration is being prepared by concerned individuals and lawmakers who believe the decision must be challenged.
The ruling has intensified debate over the balance of power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as the limits of legal technicalities in matters of public accountability.
