Imee Marcos says impeachment complaint vs Sara Duterte 'dead but not buried'

The impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte may be revived should the Supreme Court reverse its decision, Senator Imee Marcos said Thursday.

Marcos made the remarks a day after the Senate, voting 19-4-1, moved to archives the articles of impeachment against Duterte, saying it is “dead but not buried.”

“It’s dead but it’s not really buried. In effect, because it is in the archive…pwede namang hugutin pa uli kung magbago ang Korte Suprema (it can still be revived should the SC reverse its decision),” Marcos said during the Kapihan sa Senado. 

“Sumusunod lang kami sa batas at sa Korte Suprema (We are just following the law and the Supreme Court),” she said. 

Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, JV Ejercito, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Rodante Marcoleta, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Imee Marcos, and Robin Padilla, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Camille Villar, and Mark Villar, and Miguel Zubiri voted yes.

Senators Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Senate minority leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III voted no. 

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson abstained.

“We archived it that’s for sure pero maliwanag naman sa sentimyento ng lahat na kung ano ang utos ng SC ay masusunod. Kung may himala na mangyari at mag-reverse ang 13 justices, talaga namang susunod kami dun,” said Marcos, adding she believes the possibility that the SC will reverse its ruling is “highly unlikely”. 

“We archived it, that’s for sure but it is clear that we will adhere to the SC decision. We will follow if the 13 justices reverse their decision.)

Meanwhile, Senator Rodante Marcoleta said the impeachment case against Duterte died along with the end of the 19th Congress. 

“Sapagkat ‘yung impeachment na pinasimulan noong 19th Congress, kasamang namatay noong nag-expire ang 19th Congress noong June 30, 2025. Isa ‘yun na dapat isaalang-alang,” Marcoleta told Super Radyo dzBB. 

(Because the impeachment initiated during the 19th Congress also ended when the 19th Congress expired on June 30, 2025. It must be taken into consideration.) 

Marcoleta, who chairs the Senate committee on accountability of public officers and investigations, initially moved for the dismissal of the articles of impeachment, but agreed to Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva's amendment that the complaint instead be archived.

When asked if an impeachment will be filed against Duterte in February 2026, Marcoleta said, “Nasa kanila na yun (It’s up to them).”

“Basta iluto lang nilang mabuti ‘yung kanin, katanggap-tanggap, hindi hilaw. ‘Yun lang naman (they should work on it. It should be acceptable),” the senator said as he likened Duterte's impeachment case to uncooked rice. 

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the motion of Sotto to table the impeachment case should have been enough instead of archiving it.

“Kapag in-archive kahit hindi pa patay, napakahirap ilabas sa archives. Kailangan pang mag-majority vote,” Hontiveros said.

(Once it is archived, even if it’s not dead, it’s very hard to bring it out of the archives. It requires a majority vote.) 

“Tama na sana ‘yung motion to table kasi nga ibig sabihin, isasantabi muna pero oras na matapos ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa motion for reconsideration, itutuloy na. Ganoon lang,” she added.

(The motion to table should have been enough, since it simply means setting it aside for now. But once the Supreme Court rules on the motions for reconsideration, it will proceed.)

Hontiveros also noted that the issues surrounding Duterte’s impeachment case should be resolved. 

“Dapat hindi muna tayo mag-move on kung may mga importanteng issue na kailangang ma-resolve muna. Na may mga leksyon tayo na matutunan doon. At sa pagtuto natin, sisingilin ‘yung accountability ng bawat isa sa atin,” the senator said.

(We shouldn’t move on yet if there are important issues that still need to be resolved. There are lessons we need to learn from it. And through that learning, we will hold those accountable.)

Just a suggestion

Meanwhile, Marcos reiterated she was merely making a recommendation to House lawmakers when she suggested they replace Speaker Martin Romualdez instead of removing an elected leader. 

“Wala akong niyuyurakan. Sabi ko nga, suggestion lang naman ito. 'Wag kayong magalit at wala naman akong pinipilit (I am not attacking anyone. As I’ve said, it's just a suggestion. Don't get mad, I'm not forcing anyone to do it),” she said. 

Meanwhile, the senator also said she already texted the Vice President regarding the Senate vote. She said Duterte replied with a Bible quote and thanked God.

Impeachment complaint

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Vice President was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

Recently, the Supreme Court declared the articles of impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional, stressing that it was barred by the one-year rule under the Constitution and that it violated her right to due process.

The House then filed a motion for reconsideration, seeking to reverse the SC decision. The lower chamber argued it should be allowed to perform its exclusive duty to prosecute an impeachable official, and the Senate's to try the case.

Three motions for reconsideration have been filed with the SC against its ruling. 

The first was filed by some of the individuals behind the first impeachment complaint against Duterte, followed by the motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives.

The third motion was filed by the 1Sambayan coalition, including retired SC justices Conchita Carpio-Morales, also a former Ombudsman, and Antonio Carpio. They asked the SC to issue a status quo ante order and to set the case for oral arguments. —AOL, GMA Integrated News