MANILA — Malacañang called on the public to respect the Supreme Court’s decision voiding the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing the independence of the legislative and judicial branches in handling the matter.

“We have yet to review the full text of the Supreme Court’s decision. We call on everyone to respect the Supreme Court and place their trust in our institutions,” the Palace said in a statement.

“The impeachment process is a matter handled by the legislative and judicial branches, and we recognize their independence in carrying out their constitutional mandates,” it added.

The statement came after the Supreme Court En Banc, voting 13-0 with two abstentions, struck down the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte on grounds that they violated the one-year ban on impeachment and the Vice President’s right to due process.

The Court ruled that the fourth complaint — filed and endorsed on February 5, 2025 — was unconstitutional, citing the three earlier complaints filed in December 2024 as having already initiated impeachment proceedings. These earlier complaints were considered dismissed when Congress adjourned on February 5, 2025.

Under the Constitution, no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a year.

The Court emphasized that due process applies throughout the impeachment process and laid out safeguards for future proceedings, including access to evidence and the opportunity for the respondent to be heard.

In its ruling, penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the Court stated: “There is a right way to do the right thing at the right time. This is what the Rule of Just Law means.”