Lawyers for Vice President Sara Duterte lauded the Supreme Court for upholding the “rule of law” following the court’s release of a unanimous decision declaring the impeachment bid against her unconstitutional.

On the other hand, the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives condemned the decision that barred the impeachment complaint as violative of the constitutional prohibition against the filing of more than one case within a period of one year.

The High Court made it clear that it did not absolve Duterte “from any of the charges” filed agains her.

'It is not our duty to favor any political result. Ours is to ensure that politics are framed with the Rule of Just Law,” said the court.

Lawyer Michael Poa, spokesperson of the defense team, cited the decision for affirming “what we maintained from the outset”, adding that the SC should be praised for upholding “the rule of law.”

ACT Teachers partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio assailed the decision but predicted that the law will catch up on Duterte.

On the other hand, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said the dismissal of the impeachment complaint is a ‘grave injustice” to the Filipino people.

“This is an insult to the Filipino people, especially to teachers and education workers who continue to suffer from shrinking budgets, delayed salaries and insufficient support,” the teachers group said in a statement.

The High Court voted 13-0 to uphold the contention of Duterte that the the filing of the Articles of Impeachment violated the one year rule under Article XI Section 3 paragraph 5 of the 1987 Constitution.

Two magistrates, Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa and Filomena Singh were not among those who voted for the majority decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

Caguioa inhibited himself while Singh is on leave.

According to the High Court the Senate has no jurisdiction over the impeachment complaint against Duterte because of the cited constitutional violation.

Four impeachment complaints were filed in the Lower House - three on December, 2024 while the fourth - in February, 2025.

Congressmen chose to send the fourth complaint to the Senate as the Office of the Secretary General decided to archive the first three cases filed.