The Supreme Court has upheld its previous decision that the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte were unconstitutional, after completely dismissing the motion of the House of Representatives. According to the court, the complaint violated the one-year bar rule, which clearly sets a limit on the repeated filing of impeachment against the same official.
The court explained that previous complaints are considered finished or dismissed, so a new impeachment cannot be initiated within the one-year period. It also emphasized that the counting of the one-year ban begins when the complaint expires, not on the date it is sent to the Senate.
On the side of the vice president's camp, they welcomed the decision as final and clear guidance on the proper boundaries of the impeachment process. According to them, the decision emphasizes the rule of law and lays down a clear direction to prevent political abuse of constitutional processes.
However, some legal experts have expressed concern, saying the decision could tighten the use of impeachment as an accountability mechanism. For them, a stricter policy requires more careful and disciplined action from lawmakers.
In summary, the Supreme Court asserted that the limitations on impeachment are designed to ensure due process, fairness, and respect for the rights of the accused. By virtue of the decision, government institutions are expected to follow the clear standards set by the Constitution for next steps.
