Courtesy: House of Representatives
A House leader on Friday raised the prospect of refiling the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte in February 2026, saying the process remains open if the next Congress deems it necessary.
“I think ‘yun pong Feb 2026 na refiling ng impeachment proceedings on the same articles, on the same reasons, katulad ng paggamit ng confidential funds at pagbabanta laban sa mga matataas na opisyal ng pamahalaan, ’yan po ay magpapatuloy in the event po na magpasya po yung 20th Congress House of Representatives na mag-refile at daanan muli ang proseso ng impeachment laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte,” said Rep. Terry Ridon, chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts.
Ridon emphasized that the current Congress would await the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision on the motion for reconsideration it filed when the high court declared as unconstitutional the Articles of Impeachment against VP Duterte.
He said the possibility of reviving the case depends in large part on that ruling.
“So, aantayin po ng Kongreso ito pong magiging resulta nito pong motion for reconsideration ng Korte Suprema. Kung ano man abutin ito, eh di tsaka ho tayo mag-usap muli,” he said.
The lawmaker clarified that the Senate’s decision to archive the impeachment case should not be interpreted as a dismissal of the process.
According to Ridon, the nature of archiving keeps the possibility open for future deliberation, depending on legal developments.
“We are hopeful and we are thankful, I mean it’s unfortunate that it got archived but we are also thankful that they did not dismiss it. Kasi nga, like what they stated, yung archiving is not exactly killing the entire thing,” he noted.
If the Supreme Court decides to reverse its earlier decision, Ridon believes the Senate would have to unarchive the case in accordance with the same reasoning it used to justify the archive in the first place.
“In the event that the MR is reconsidered, ’yan yung magiging basis for the Senate to unarchive it instead of outrightly dismissing it,” he explained.
“So ibig sabihin in every platform, in every proceeding kung saan natin pwedeng exact yung accountability and truth on confidential funds and the death threats against high officials, we will go to that game,” he said.
Ridon said those who voted to archive the case should also vote to resurrect it if the Supreme Court overturns its earlier ruling.
“Kasi ang batayan kung bakit sila nag-archive ay yung kanila pong sinasabi na mahalagang-mahalagang galangin po natin ang Korte Suprema. In the event that Supreme Court reconsiders, that’s the same logic that we have to apply, di ba?” he surmised.
He noted that even if the high court’s ruling becomes final and unfavorable, the possibility of refiling in the next Congress remains strong.
“I think House members would definitely be interested in refiling it. Whichever mode it takes. Pagka naman ho sure ka na, sure ka on evidence, sure ka on the justness of it, it shouldn’t stop you from actually refiling it. So, it stopped us today, but there’s February 2026 anyway,” he stated.
On whether a new impeachment complaint should go through the Committee on Justice or be transmitted directly to plenary, Ridon said the method would depend on tactical considerations, but the principle remains.
“At this point, it’s a matter of tactics. We just have to agree on is it a just thing to do. And I’m quite certain House members will say today that it is a just thing to do,” he said.
Ridon acknowledged that the Supreme Court ruling introduced new requirements that would need to be addressed in any future complaint.
“Siyempre may bago pong mga rekisito po na kailangang gawin. Pero kung ano man ‘yan, whether through the Committee on Justice or whether through plenary, the most important thing today is… kailangan bang may managot sa usapin po ng confidential funds?” he said.
He stressed that accountability for the alleged misuse of confidential funds and threats against top government officials remains a central concern that should be pursued.
“Kung ang sagot po doon ay oo, whether it is through the Committee on Justice or whether it is through plenary, gagawin po at gagawin po yung mga rekisitong kailangan pong gawin para po dito,” Ridon said.
Asked whether he himself would support a new impeachment complaint after Feb. 5, 2026, Ridon said he would likely back the move.
“I think we might be inclined to support it. Kasi wala namang nagbago, it’s just the periods that had changed eh. So, it’s the same evidence that we are talking about, not the period,” Ridon said.
He added that if the House leadership finds it just and timely to refile under the new rules and realities set by the high court, there would be no reason not to pursue it.
“As soon as we reached that point, if it is the House leadership’s wisdom that another impeachment complaint should be filed within the new rules and new reality under the Supreme Court decision, if they do not reconsider, I think it is something that we are in fact inclined to support,” Ridon said.
