MANILA – Anyone will be free to file an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte starting February 6, 2026, when the one-year ban on filing impeachment complaints against officials expires, based on a Supreme Court decision.

House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson and Bicol Saro Partylist Representative Terry Ridon said any new impeachment case against VP Duterte would be based on truth and accountability, not political deals. This contradicts Senator Imee Marcos's suggestion that pork barrel allocations in the 2026 budget could be used to motivate a new impeachment effort.

"Impeachment proceedings are not based on projects that are promised. Impeachment proceedings are based on quests for truth and accountability, particularly on the use of confidential funds," Ridon said. "So, the basis for the impeachment last year has not changed, actually, for 2026. So, if house members or civil society would want to fight it again as soon as the one-year ban is finished, I think they are free to do so."

The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the House's appeal of its decision on the impeachment case against VP Duterte. Ridon explained that if the court rules in favor of the House before February 6, no new complaint would be needed and the Senate would have to proceed to trial.

"So hopefully from today until the 5th of February 2026 the Supreme Court will basically dispose of the matter already," Ridon said. "If it is favorable to the House, it basically would mean that you don't need another impeachment complaint against the vice president at this point. It basically means that the Senate will have to proceed to trial."

[“So hopefully, from today until the 5th of February 2026 the Supreme Court will basically dispose of the matter already. Kasi siyempre, pagka ho it is favorable to the House, it basically would mean that you don’t need another impeachment complaint against the vice president at this point. It basically means that the senate will have to proceed to trial…”]

However, if the ruling is unfavorable or if the court has not decided by February 6, the House would need to implement new impeachment rules as directed by the Supreme Court, which would guide any complaints filed after that date.

House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice, meanwhile, said he will not file an impeachment complaint against VP Duterte. He argued that if an impeachment is pursued against the Vice President over allegations involving 125 million pesos in confidential funds and 500 million pesos in DepEd funds, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should also face impeachment over the flood control corruption scandal involving trillions of pesos.

"If we want fairness, not just politics, then both of them should face the impeachment court and both should explain the accusations against them," Erice said.

[“Dapat, kung gusto natin ng makatarungan, hindi lang yung dahil sa pulitika, eh di pareho na silang humarap sa impeachment court, pareho silang magpaliwanag sa mga akusasyon sa kanila.”]

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