VICE President Sara Duterte has formally asked the Senate impeachment court to dismiss the impeachment complaint filed against her by the House of Representatives.
In her response to the articles of impeachment sent to the Senate impeachment court on Monday, June 23, 2025, Duterte argued that the filing of complaints against her violated Article XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that “no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year.”
Duterte noted that the complaint endorsed by the House of Representatives was the fourth impeachment complaint filed before the lower chamber.
The House lawmakers who will serve as prosecutors in the impeachment trial will be given five days to respond on this.
During the hearing as the Senate convened as the impeachment court in the trial of Duterte on June 10, senator-judges approved the return of the complaints to the House of Representatives to clarify the following:
* The House of Representatives certify to the non-violation of Article XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which provides that “No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within one year; include the circumstances on the filing of the first three impeachment complaints"; and
* The House of Representatives of the 20th Congress communicates to the Senate that it is willing and ready to pursue the impeachment complaint against the Vice President.
The articles of impeachment approved by over 250 House members and submitted to the Senate in February, on the last day of session before it went for a four-month break in relation to the May 2025 elections, was the fourth impeachment complaint filed before the lower chamber.
Three other impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte since December 2025.
The lower chamber earlier certified that the impeachment proceedings initiated on February 5, 2025 strictly adhered to the Constitution, noting that the articles of impeachment submitted to the Senate was a consolidation of all the complaints filed in the chamber.
Duterte’s impeachment revolves around six major allegations, including the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act over the alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President, as well as the Department of Education (DepEd) during her time as the secretary from 2022 to 2024, and the bribery and corruption in the DepEd. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)