The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives announced on Monday that it is ready to endorse a fresh impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte as early as February 2026.
This development follows the Supreme Court’s (SC) unanimous en banc ruling that the articles of impeachment previously filed against Duterte violated the 1987 Constitution’s one-year bar rule. The rule prohibits initiating a new impeachment case against the same official within one year of the first filing.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio stated that their group would spearhead the refiling if the SC does not overturn its decision.
“Yes. So, definitely kung hindi talaga matutuloy ang impeachment ngayon, as soon as possible, kung Pebrero man ‘yan next year, definitely i-endorso uli natin,” Tinio said.
The SC’s decision, issued last month, voided the impeachment case against Duterte, citing the one-year prohibition. The Vice President faced three impeachment complaints in December 2024 over alleged misuse of confidential funds, followed by a fourth case in February 2025 that was endorsed by over one-third of House members and transmitted to the Senate.
The SC clarified that no new impeachment complaint can be filed against Duterte until February 2026.
Tinio challenged Duterte to publicly address and present evidence regarding allegations of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds. He stressed that transparency is essential to clearing her name and restoring public trust.
Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc is weighing the possibility of filing a joint resolution to simplify the impeachment process and avoid procedural pitfalls. Lawmakers from the group claimed that the SC’s updated rules have made the process more complicated, creating potential loopholes for public officials facing serious accusations.
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co echoed Tinio’s call for accountability and urged Duterte to attend the upcoming budget hearings in Congress personally. Co warned that Duterte’s continued absence could strengthen the case for another impeachment attempt next year.
“Kung she will be absent, kung she will continue to evade answers, all the more reason na magkaka-grounds ng impeachment complaint, no? Na bubuhayin ng 2026,” Co said.
With the one-year bar set to lapse in early 2026, the political tension surrounding the Vice President shows no signs of cooling, setting the stage for another high-stakes impeachment battle in the months ahead.