MANILA — The Supreme Court is facing mounting criticism after it dismissed the fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, with coalition 1SAMBAYAN condemning the ruling as based on “critical factual inaccuracies” that undermine the rule of law.

In a statement, 1SAMBAYAN said the Court’s dismissal was anchored in a “demonstrably false” interpretation of the timeline and proceedings in the House of Representatives. The group is calling for a reexamination of the decision, warning that it threatens the integrity of the entire impeachment process.

“The Supreme Court’s assertion that the fourth complaint was filed after the one-year bar rule took effect and lacked plenary action is simply incorrect,” the coalition said Friday. “House records clearly show otherwise.”

The Timeline That’s Causing a Storm

According to 1SAMBAYAN, the Supreme Court’s decision misrepresented the actual sequence of events on February 5, 2025 — the pivotal day when the House of Representatives acted on the impeachment complaints.

Here’s the timeline as outlined by 1SAMBAYAN:

1. Plenary action and a vote were held on the fourth impeachment complaint.
2. The first three complaints were archived.
3. The fourth complaint was transmitted to the Senate at 4:57 p.m.
4. The House adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

This sequence, 1SAMBAYAN argues, proves the fourth complaint was adopted before the constitutional one-year bar on multiple impeachment proceedings kicked in — a bar that, according to the Supreme Court’s own interpretation, only began upon the House’s adjournment.

In contrast, the Court concluded that the complaint was filed after the dismissal of the previous three, and without plenary action — conclusions that 1SAMBAYAN contends are directly contradicted by official records.

‘This Isn’t Just a Technical Error’

Legal observers say the dispute over the timeline is more than academic — it strikes at the core of how impeachment should function within the Philippines’ constitutional democracy.

“By incorrectly stating the order of events, the Court reached an erroneous conclusion regarding the timeliness of the fourth impeachment complaint,” 1SAMBAYAN said.

The coalition cautioned that if left unchallenged, the Court’s decision could set a perilous precedent — one where procedural inaccuracies or misinterpretations derail legitimate accountability efforts.

“The implications of this misrepresentation extend far beyond this single case, impacting the integrity of the impeachment process itself,” the statement added.

1SAMBAYAN has made it clear it will not back down. The group is urging a full review of the Court’s decision and a correction of what it describes as undeniable factual errors.

“The misrepresentation of facts undermines the principles of due process and fair judgment,” the coalition said. “1SAMBAYAN advocates for a transparent and accurate accounting of events, ensuring that future legal decisions are grounded on the truth and not flawed interpretations of the facts.”

“The integrity of the judicial system demands a swift and decisive response to these inaccuracies,” the statement stressed.

Vice President Sara Duterte has remained silent following the Court’s ruling.

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