Early impeachment trial favors Duterte

The current ongoing uproar on the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) declaring the impeachment filed as unconstitutional, shows and is indicative of the persistent/ growing interest of the majority, (61%) of the Filipinos, to proceed with the impeachment trial.

- Ruben Almendras

The main and social media are ablaze with this issue, and discussions in groups and “man on the street” talks persist.

The SC ruling did not acquit/exonerate VP Duterte but ruled on the procedural error in the filing of more than one impeachment complaint in a year, and that a new complaint has to be filed after Feb. 6, 2026. The ruling is actually questionable on the definition/ interpretation of “filed”, and on its implication for “fake” impeachment motions to sabotage valid/real impeachment complaints. These issues are taken up in the motions for reconsideration which are now filed with the SC. This column will take up who are/will be advantaged or disadvantaged with the delay in the VP Duterte impeachment proceedings.