FACT CHECK: SC did not nullify impeachment articles vs Sara Duterte 

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The misleading video only cites a supplemental petition filed on June 11 urging the Court to nullify Duterte's impeachment; the SC has not issued any ruling

Claim: The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim, posted on June 13, has already received 77,940 views, 4,900 likes, and 391 comments as of writing. 

Its title says, “Finish na! Malaking good news! Articles of impeachment vs. VP Sara pinapawalang-bisa sa Korte Suprema!”

(It’s finished! Big good news! The Supreme Court has ordered the dismissal of the articles of impeachment vs. VP Sara.)

Many believed the claim to be true, prompting one social media user to comment, “Hindi matatalo ng kasamaan ang kabutihan (Evil cannot defeat good.) Karma is real for those who signed the impeachment.” 

Another wrote, “Dahil alam ng Diyos na may malinis na puso si VP Sara Du30 para sa [mamamayang] Pilipino.”

(Because God knows that VP Sara Duterte has a pure heart for the Filipino people). 

The facts: The High Court has not issued any order nullifying Duterte’s impeachment. The video only cited a supplemental petition filed by a group of lawyers on June 11 asking the SC to block the impeachment trial. 

The 45-page supplemental petition filed by Mindanao-based lawyer Israelito Torreon and several other petitioners also asked the SC to declare the articles of impeachment null and void. 

This backs up their petition for certiorari and prohibition which was initially filed last February, stating that the impeachment complaint should be nullified for violating Section 3(5), Article XI of the Constitution, which states that “No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year.”

As of writing, there is no SC ruling on the filed petitions.

Impeachment: The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, on the grounds of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. She is accused of plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., misusing P612.5 million confidential funds, and bribing government officials, among others.

The Senate convened as an impeachment court on June 10 and decided to remand the impeachment articles to the House of Representatives. The following day, the lower chamber certified that the proceedings did not circumvent the Constitution.

When the 20th Congress opens in July, it will decide whether or not to proceed with the trial or drop it entirely. (WATCH: Rappler Talk: What’s next in VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial?)

Previous fact checks: Rappler has previously debunked similar false posts about supposed Supreme Court decisions regarding Duterte’s impeachment: 

• FACT CHECK: No Supreme Court order blocking Sara Duterte’s impeachment
• FACT CHECK: Carpio did not confirm dismissal of Sara Duterte impeachment case 
• FACT CHECK: Sara Duterte’s impeachment not dismissed 
• FACT CHECK: SC did not nullify Sara Duterte’s impeachment 
• FACT CHECK: No SC ruling declaring Sara Duterte’s impeachment invalid 

– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com 

Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024. 

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