Vice President Sara Duterte has taken legal action against her fourth impeachment complaint, filing a petition with the Supreme Court to challenge its validity and constitutionality. The petition seeks to halt the impeachment proceedings and highlights various legal and constitutional concerns regarding the complaint.
Vice President Sara Duterte has initiated legal action against her fourth impeachment complaint, filing a petition with the Supreme Court to challenge its validity and constitutionality. The petition, seeking judicial intervention to uphold due process, cites serious legal and constitutional concerns regarding the complaint, according to the Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar law firm. Duterte's legal team argues that the impeachment process against her is flawed and demands a halt to the proceedings.
The petition names the House of Representatives, Speaker Martin Romualdez, the Senate, Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero, and House Secretary General Reginald Velasco as respondents. It seeks a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction while the Supreme Court reviews the case. While the petition was filed on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, it was not included in the en banc agenda for the day.This latest move comes after three previous impeachment complaints against Duterte in December 2024, all focused on alleged misuse of confidential funds. The fourth complaint, endorsed by over one-third of House lawmakers, was transmitted to the Senate, but the upper chamber adjourned without addressing the matter. Senate President Escudero indicated that Duterte's impeachment trial is likely to commence after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 21, 2025 during the 20th Congress. Earlier, lawyers from Mindanao and other groups filed petitions with the Supreme Court, urging it to direct the Senate to cease and desist from proceeding with Duterte's impeachment trial. They claim the complaint is defective and request the court to declare the Articles of Impeachment null and void. Another petition for mandamus, demanding the Senate to immediately convene as an impeachment court for Duterte's trial, was also filed.Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Duterte has stated that she is not considering resigning from her position. She has also expressed her willingness to engage with the allegations against her, asserting that she will not appear at the impeachment court's proceedings at this early stage as it is permissible. The seven Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Duterte encompass a range of accusations, including conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez; malversation of P612.5 million in confidential funds; bribery and corruption within the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte's tenure as Education Secretary; unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN); involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City; and efforts to destabilize and incite public disorder.
SUPREME COURT IMPEACHMENT SARA DUTERTE ELECTION PHILIPPINES
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Duterte Allies Challenge 2025 Philippine Budget in Supreme CourtFormer President Duterte's allies contend that the 2025 Philippine national budget is unconstitutional, citing concerns about PhilHealth funding, increased legislative budgets, and blank line items in the final report.
Read more »
Pangilinan: Duterte Impeachment Case Might Reach Supreme Court Due to Timeline DisputeSenator Kiko Pangilinan believes the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte could go to the Supreme Court due to disagreements over the timeline for proceeding with the trial.
Read more »
Ex-PCGG lawyer asks Supreme Court to order start of Sara Duterte impeachment trial'In the final analysis, the Constitution does not allow the Senate to procrastinate during the period it is on recess whether it shall constitute itself into an impeachment court and the try the Vice President,' says lawyer Catalino Generillo Jr.
Read more »
Petition Urges Supreme Court to Force Senate to Hold Impeachment Trial Against VP Sara DuterteA petition has been filed with the Supreme Court, urging it to compel the Senate to convene as an impeachment court and begin a trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, despite the Senate being on a four-month break. Lawyer Catalino Generillo Jr. argues that the Constitution mandates the Senate to immediately constitute itself as an impeachment court upon receiving the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives and to forthwith proceed with the trial.
Read more »
Mindanao Lawyers to Challenge Duterte Impeachment Complaint in Supreme CourtA group of Mindanao-based lawyers will file a petition to nullify the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, arguing that it is procedurally defective, constitutionally infirm, and jurisdictionally void. They will seek a Temporary Restraining Order and Writ of Preliminary Injunction from the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, another lawyer has petitioned the SC to compel the Senate to immediately form an impeachment court and begin the trial.
Read more »
Mindanao lawyers ask Supreme Court to block Sara Duterte impeachment trialThe lawyers argue that the articles of impeachment used against Vice President Sara Duterte allegedly suffer from several constitutional infirmities, and are therefore invalid
Read more »