The battle over Vice President Sara Duterte’s political fate is far from over, with House leaders already setting their sights on February 2026 as the next possible stage for an impeachment clash — if the Supreme Court refuses to reverse its ruling voiding the current case.
House Committee on Public Accounts Chair Terry Ridon said lawmakers prepared to hold Duterte accountable will not hesitate to bring the case back once the one-year ban lapses.
“If we lose at the motion-for-reconsideration level, the next step is obvious — we wait for February 2026 and refile,” Ridon said. “If you’re certain about your evidence and the justness of your cause, you don’t stop.”
The Supreme Court recently struck down the impeachment articles, citing a breach of the constitutional one-year bar and due process issues. The ruling, though “immediately executory,” explicitly stated it was not clearing Duterte of the accusations — which include questions over her use of confidential funds and alleged threats to top officials.
Under the Court’s timetable, a fresh complaint can be lodged starting February 6, 2026. The House, however, has filed a motion insisting its original proceedings followed the Constitution, accusing the justices of relying on “factual errors.”
Should the Court side with the House, Ridon said the Senate could simply retrieve the impeachment case from the archives and resume the trial.
“Archiving is not killing a case. It’s like putting it in a drawer. If the Supreme Court reconsiders, the proceedings can be revived immediately,” he explained.
Ridon also rejected accusations from some senators that the case was a political hit job, insisting the process is rooted in accountability, not ambition.
“This is not about being pro- or anti-Duterte. It’s about the truth — how confidential funds are used, and the threats against the President, the First Lady, and the House Speaker,” he said. “If there’s misuse of public money, the impeachment process must run its course, no matter who holds office.”
The congressman further dismissed Senator Imee Marcos’ suggestion to change the House leadership, calling it interference in a co-equal chamber’s affairs.
“The Senate has no say in who leads the House. That’s the principle of inter-parliamentary courtesy,” he stressed. “We make our own decisions — not senators, and certainly not the President’s relatives.”
With political tensions running high and 2026 already marked on the calendar, the Vice President’s camp faces a year and a half of looming uncertainty. Whether the next move comes in weeks or in 18 months, the battle lines in this high-stakes political chess game are clearly drawn.