MISLEADING: SC declares bid to reopen VP Duterte impeachment case unconstitutional

Francine Balang

A social media post claims that the Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the motion to reopen the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte after supposedly declaring it unconstitutional. 

CLAIM

The motion to reopen Duterte’s impeachment case has been struck down by the SC for being unconstitutional. 

RATING: MISLEADING

CONCLUSION

The claim misrepresents an earlier SC ruling that involved the initial impeachment complaint filed against Duterte in 2025. It does not apply to the current impeachment case, which remains pending before the Senate. 

THE FACTS

• Contrary to the claim, the SC’s ruling pertains to the first impeachment complaint against Duterte.
• In January 2026, the SC denied the House of Representatives’ motion for reconsideration, citing the one-year bar rule under the Constitution.
• After the one-year period lapsed, new impeachment complaints were filed. The House impeached Duterte again and transmitted the case to the Senate, where it remains pending.

THE BOTTOMLINE

An SC old ruling is being falsely presented as a decision on Duterte’s current impeachment case which is still awaiting trial in the Senate.