Protesters call on SC to overturn ruling on Sara Duterte impeachment

Several groups on Tuesday trooped anew to the Supreme Court (SC) calling for the reversal of its ruling that deemed as unconstitutional the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. 

The SC is expected to hold an en banc session today, Tuesday. 

"Gusto natin mangyari sa en banc ay tanggapin niya 'yung iba't ibang mga motions for reconsideration na finile ng iba't ibang grupo," Bagong Alyansa Makabayan Chairperson Teddy Casiño said.

(We want the Supreme Court en banc to grant the motions for reconsideration filed by various groups.)

Several groups again called on the Supreme Court to overturn its ruling that barred VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. The SC is expected to hold its en banc session today @gmanews pic.twitter.com/41uYpCO8YI

— Joahna Lei Casilao (@joahnacasilao) August 12, 2025

In its ruling, the SC declared that the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte are barred by the one-year rule under Article XI, Section 3(5) of the Constitution and violated her right to due process.

To recall, three impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte in connection to the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education under her leadership.

It was the fourth impeachment complaint that was endorsed by over one-third of lawmakers from the House of Representatives, and was later transmitted to the Senate as the Articles of Impeachment.

The SC said the first three complaints were deemed terminated or dismissed when the House endorsed the fourth complaint. It ruled that the one-year ban is reckoned from the time a complaint is dismissed or is no longer viable. 

Five motions for reconsideration have been filed against the SC ruling.

They were filed by the House of Representatives, the 1Sambayan coalition, as well as the complainants behind the first three impeachment complaints against Duterte. 

"Alam naming mahirap 'yan pero siguro naman dahil napaka glaring ng mga factual errors ng decision at napaka glaring na talagang sumobra 'yung overreach na ginawa ng Korte Suprema, eh baka naman ay isa ito sa mga pambihirang pagkakataon na ire-reverse niya ang kanyang sarili," Casiño said.

(We know that it is a long shot but because the factual errors and the SC's overreach are very glaring, then this may be a rare opportunity for the high court to reverse itself.)

According to SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting, the motions for reconsideration were included in the court’s agenda but no action was taken. — VDV/RF, GMA Integrated News