Makabayan Pledges New Impeachment Effort
The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has declared its intent to refile an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte by February 2026. This move depends on whether the Supreme Court upholds its initial ruling that halted current proceedings.
During a recent briefing, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio and Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co confirmed their plans to pursue a fresh impeachment complaint should the Supreme Court reject the House’s motion for reconsideration. The motion, filed on August 4, challenges the Court’s earlier decision that deemed the impeachment complaints unconstitutional because they violated the one-year limit on impeachment proceedings.
Commitment to Accountability Remains Strong
“Yes, yes, so definitely if the impeachment would really fail to push through now, then as soon as possible, if that is February of next year, definitely we will relaunch that,” Tinio stated firmly. Meanwhile, Co emphasized that their fight for accountability will persist regardless of the legal hurdles.
“For us, definitely, we will continue in our call to try Sara, whether it be through the impeachment trial or through the public, as the public deserves to know where their money is at, and if she will continuously evade and say ‘I don’t want to appear because there are questions or it is not voluntary for me to explain’ … for us these are acts unbecoming of a public official,” Co said.
She added, “So in the end, whether it be through an impeachment trial in 2026 or the continuous scrutiny through the hearings in Congress, where we want the corruption issues to be revealed, the Makabayan bloc will continue to do that.”
Background of Impeachment Complaints
During the 19th Congress, the Makabayan bloc, including representatives from ACT Teachers, Gabriela, and Kabataan party-lists, endorsed the second impeachment complaint filed by progressive groups on December 4, 2024. That month also saw two other complaints: one by civil society groups on December 2 and another filed by lawyers and religious leaders on December 19, both supported by various lawmakers.
On February 5, the House impeached Vice President Duterte after 215 lawmakers signed a fourth complaint. The allegations included misuse of confidential funds in her offices, threats against ranking officials, and other potential breaches of the 1987 Constitution. The articles of impeachment were transmitted to the Senate the same day, triggering the required trial process as mandated by the Constitution.
Legal Challenges and Supreme Court Ruling
In response, two petitions were filed before the Supreme Court in February to halt the impeachment proceedings. One petition came from Mindanao-based lawyers claiming the House did not act within the required 10 session days on the complaints. Duterte’s legal team, including her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, also sought to stop the trial, citing the constitutional rule that only one impeachment complaint can be initiated against an official per year.
On July 25, the Supreme Court announced a unanimous decision declaring the articles of impeachment unconstitutional. The Court ruled that the initial three complaints were archived and dismissed on February 5, 2025, thus barring any new complaints until after February 6, 2026.
Future Plans and Collaborative Efforts
Given the Supreme Court’s decision, Makabayan expressed willingness to collaborate with other groups that share their goal of holding Vice President Duterte accountable. Tinio remarked, “Well, maybe that is possible (discussing with other groups) as long as we continue seeking accountability, and if the process would be quicker, we’re open to that.”
Despite the legal setback, the Makabayan bloc remains steadfast in pursuing transparency and justice through impeachment or congressional hearings. The fight to expose alleged corruption and demand answers continues unabated.
For more news and updates on impeachment complaints against Sara Duterte, visit Filipinokami.com.
