“VOID AB INITIO!”: Sara Duterte’s High-Stakes Gambit to Stop Impeachment Dead in Its Tracks

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As the sun set over the capital, a quiet but thunderous political maneuver unfolded inside the hallowed halls of government. At precisely 5:49 p.m., a 34-page legal bombshell landed on the desks of the Senate impeachment court — Vice President Sara Duterte, through her legal team, was not just defending herself; she was demanding a complete shutdown of the impeachment proceedings, declaring the complaint against her as “void ab initio”—invalid from the very beginning.

In the boldest act yet of her political survival campaign, Duterte did not appear in person. She didn’t need to. Her message, contained in carefully crafted legalese, was clear: this trial has no right to exist.

A Storm of Accusations

The charges leveled against the sitting Vice President are some of the most severe in the nation’s history. This is not just about politics — this is about the alleged misuse of over P600 million in confidential funds, supposed plots to assassinate high-ranking officials including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., bribery, unexplained wealth, and even ties to extrajudicial killings during her tenure as Davao City mayor.

This latest — and fourth — impeachment complaint combines seven explosive articles, categorized under six grave offenses. It was filed after months of growing outrage from legislators and watchdog groups, who accused the Vice President of turning public service into a private fiefdom. According to reports, the charges rest on an incriminating trail of receipts, testimonies, and media interviews — some featuring Duterte herself admitting she fantasized about decapitating the First Lady.

A Legal Chess Move

In the face of this firestorm, Duterte's defense team launched a surgical strike: discredit the entire process before it even reaches the courtroom floor. The central argument? That the impeachment complaint violates the Constitution’s one-year bar rule, which prohibits the initiation of more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official within a 12-month period. Duterte's lawyers argue that a similar complaint was filed earlier, making this one constitutionally infirm.

By submitting an “Answer ad cautelam” — a legal response filed out of caution and not consent — Duterte isn’t just contesting the charges. She’s declaring the entire trial as illegitimate. It’s a full-frontal legal attack designed to kill the proceedings procedurally before they even begin substantively.

The Long Road to This Moment

This impeachment saga began months ago, on February 5, 2025, when the House of Representatives decisively voted to impeach the Vice President with 215 lawmakers in favor. It marked the beginning of a national reckoning, a moment that would divide the political elite and send shockwaves across the country.

By June 10, the Senate formally swore in its members as judges for the impeachment court, signifying readiness to proceed with the trial. But in an unexpected twist, the Senate sent the articles of impeachment back to the House, demanding a certification of constitutional compliance. Legal scholars and political observers were divided — was this a procedural pause or a veiled escape hatch?

The House responded immediately. On June 11, it issued the required certification, reaffirming its belief that the impeachment process had followed the constitutional playbook to the letter. With that, the path to trial seemed clear — until Duterte’s legal team triggered another delay with its “void ab initio” defense.

Now, all eyes are on July 28, when the 20th Congress formally opens its legislative session. It is here, in this coming storm, that the Senate must finally decide: proceed to trial or buckle under the weight of Duterte’s constitutional counterstrike?

A Battle for Power, Legacy, and 2028

This is not merely a legal spectacle. This is a war for political survival — with the 2028 presidential elections looming on the horizon. Vice President Sara Duterte, once hailed as the heir to her father's political dynasty, now finds herself cornered, embattled, and fighting for her political life.

Supporters claim this impeachment is a coordinated effort by political enemies to eliminate her from the presidential race before the campaign even begins. Critics argue it’s the long-overdue reckoning of a public official who blurred the lines between power and impunity. And through it all, the Filipino people watch — wary, weary, but increasingly unwilling to be left in the dark.

A Nation Holds Its Breath

With the filing of her bold legal challenge, Sara Duterte has thrown down the gauntlet. She’s not begging for mercy. She’s daring the system to prove it works — or expose itself as broken.

If the Senate dismisses the complaint, it will signal that technicalities can outmaneuver accountability. If it proceeds, it could mark the first time a sitting Vice President in Philippine history faces the full force of a Senate trial. Either way, the implications are seismic.

And so, the nation waits. For a trial. For justice. For truth — or the lack of it — to finally rise above the noise.

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