Philippine Supreme Court Halts Impeachment of Sara Duterte, Fuelling 2028 Election Speculation

Published: 25th July ‘2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

In a decisive legal and political development, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has blocked the impeachment proceedings against Vice-President Sara Duterte, offering her a significant reprieve from political jeopardy and potentially altering the country’s electoral trajectory ahead of the 2028 presidential race.

The impeachment motion, passed by the lower house of parliament in February, accused Duterte of misappropriating public funds and issuing incendiary threats, including one allegedly directed at incumbent President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. These allegations triggered a constitutional and political standoff that culminated in Friday’s Supreme Court ruling.

According to a spokesperson for the court, the justices found the impeachment bid to be unconstitutional, citing the Philippines’ ban on multiple impeachment attempts within the same calendar year. While the ruling does not clear Duterte of the accusations levelled against her, it halts any legal proceedings on this front until February 2026, effectively placing the vice-president beyond the reach of impeachment mechanisms for the foreseeable future.

The ruling is being viewed as a strategic victory for Duterte, who now finds herself with valuable political breathing space as the country enters a key phase ahead of the next general elections. It also reinforces her position within the volatile power dynamics of the Philippine political landscape, especially as she considers a run for the presidency in 2028.

The political feud between Duterte and President Marcos has been one of the most polarising features of Philippine politics since the May general election. While Marcos entered the presidency with widespread support, Duterte’s unexpected gains in the Senate were widely interpreted as a popular rebuke of his administration, further complicating the fragile coalition politics of Manila.

The Supreme Court itself is largely composed of justices appointed by Duterte’s father, Rodrigo Duterte, the former president. This has added layers of complexity to public perceptions of judicial neutrality and reignited debates over institutional independence in the country.

Even prior to the court’s intervention, legal experts and political analysts had questioned the viability of the impeachment case, given the fragmented nature of post-election political alliances and the high threshold required for conviction in the Senate.

Historically, impeachment trials have proven to be deeply divisive and infrequent events in the Philippines. Only one case — that of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012 — has ended in conviction since the country restored democratic rule in 1986. Another high-profile impeachment attempt, against President Joseph Estrada in 2001, was derailed by mass protests that forced him from office before the trial could be completed.

In contrast, Duterte’s case appears to have been neutralised not by mass mobilisation or Senate votes, but by the judiciary’s interpretation of constitutional limits — a decision that simultaneously upholds legal procedure while reshaping the political landscape.

With the legal battle momentarily behind her, Vice-President Duterte is now poised to consolidate support and reposition herself as a formidable contender in the years ahead. Whether this reprieve will help heal the widening rift within the country’s top leadership or further entrench political divisions remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Sara Duterte’s political journey is far from over — and the road to 2028 has just begun.