Claim: The Supreme Court (SC) has declared Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment null and void.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a TikTok video that has garnered around 428,400 views, 22,000 likes, and 3,000 comments as of writing. Multiple accounts on the platform also reshared the video.
The video uses a clip from a news report by NET25’s “Mata ng Agila sa Tanghali” with the following text superimposed on it: “Good news, mga ka-DDS, pinawalang bisa ng SC ang impeachment ni VP Sara” (Good news, DDS friends, the Supreme Court has nullified VP Sara’s impeachment).
The facts: The High Tribunal has not nullified Duterte’s impeachment. The TikTok video misrepresented the news report about a petition filed with the SC seeking to block Duterte’s impeachment and added a misleading caption to suggest that the SC has already ruled on the matter.
The news clip used in the video referred to a petition filed on February 18 by Mindanao-based lawyers and individuals, led by Apollo Quiboloy’s counsel Israelito Torreon and former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chief Martin Delgra III. The petitioners argued that the articles of impeachment had several constitutional infirmities and requested the SC to issue a temporary restraining order to halt the impeachment proceedings. (TIMELINE: Sara Duterte impeachment)
Additionally, the petitioners urged the Court to declare the articles of impeachment null and void.
The Senate’s role in impeachment: On February 5, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte with a total of 240 lawmakers signing the petition.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero earlier said that the impeachment trial will be held after Congress’ break following the May 2025 midterm elections. Session will resume on June 2 but will adjourn on June 13. Escudero has said that the trial will likely begin in the 20th Congress.
However, some have suggested that the Senate may already constitute itself into an impeachment court based on Article XI, Section 3(4) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which states: “In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.” Legal experts are split on the “forthwith” clause of the Constitution. (READ: Frequently asked questions on VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial)
Meanwhile, Duterte has filed a motion to block one of the articles of impeachment against her. On Tuesday, February 25, the SC ordered Congress to respond to Duterte’s petition.
Other fact checks: Rappler has fact-checked several claims regarding Duterte’s impeachment:
- FACT CHECK: No SC ruling declaring Sara Duterte’s impeachment invalid
- FACT CHECK: Sara Duterte’s House impeachment is constitutional
- FACT CHECK: No death penalty, life imprisonment for Sara if convicted by Senate
– Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com
Efren Cyril Bocar is a student journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar, enrolled in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. A managing editor of Amaranth, Cyril is a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024.
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