Makabayan to refile Duterte impeachment if SC won’t reverse order

MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has vowed to refile an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte in February 2026 if the Supreme Court (SC) does not overturn its initial ruling.

"Yes, yes, so definitely if the impeachment would really fail to push through now, then as soon as possible, if that is February of next year, definitely we will relaunch that," Tinio said.

According to Co, the pursuit of accountability will continue, whether through an impeachment trial or House hearings to which Duterte will be invited.

"For us, definitely, we will continue in our call to try Sara, whether it be through the impeachment trial or through the public, as the public deserves to know where their money is at, and if she will continuously evade and say ‘I don’t want to appear because there are questions or it is not voluntary for me to explain’ … for us these are acts unbecoming of a public official," Co said.

"So in the end, whether it be through an impeachment trial in 2026 or the continuous scrutiny through the hearings in Congress, where we want the corruption issues to be revealed, the Makabayan bloc will continue to do that," she added.

During the 19th Congress, when ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel were in office, Makabayan endorsed the second impeachment complaint filed by progressive groups on December 4, 2024.

That month saw three sets of complaints: the first, filed by civil society groups on December 2 and endorsed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña; the second, backed by Makabayan; and the third, filed by lawyers and religious leaders on December 19 and endorsed by former lawmakers Naga City Rep. Gabriel Bordado and AAMBIS-OWA party-list Rep. Lex Anthony Colada.

READ: First impeachment complaint vs VP Sara filed at House

Duterte was impeached by the House on February 5 after 215 lawmakers from the 19th Congress filed and signed a fourth complaint alleging misuse of confidential funds in her offices, threats against ranking officials, and other possible violations of the 1987 Constitution.

The articles of impeachment were transmitted to the Senate the same day, in line with the 1987 Constitution, which mandates that a trial begin promptly if at least one-third of all House members — or 102 of 306 — endorse the complaint.

READ: House impeaches Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate

Also in February, two petitions seeking to stop the impeachment complaints against Duterte were filed before the Supreme Court. One was lodged by a group of Mindanao-based lawyers who argued that the House failed to observe constitutional rules requiring action on filed impeachment complaints within 10 session days.

Duterte, represented by allied lawyers including her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, also petitioned the SC to halt the proceedings, arguing that they violated constitutional provisions allowing only one impeachment complaint to be initiated against a sitting official per year.

READ: VP Sara Duterte files petition at SC to stop impeachment moves against her

READ: Supreme Court: Impeachment complaint vs Sara Duterte unconstitutional

As the SC decision may have imposed more stringent rules on pursuing impeachment complaints — by distinguishing the first three complaints — Makabayan said it is willing to work with other like-minded groups that may file the complaint.

"Well, maybe that is possible (discussing with other groups) as long as we continue seeking accountability, and if the process would be quicker, we’re open to that," Tinio said./mcm

(2025/08/11-14:57)

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