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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Claim: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a ruling declaring the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte void.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: As of writing, the video has gathered 484,018 views, 18,000 likes, and 3,641 comments. The channel has over 1.1 million subscribers.
The video’s thumbnail includes the text, “OMG! Dismissed Na? Impeachment ni VP Sara invalid?” (OMG! Case dismissed? Impeachment against VP Sara invalid?)
The narrator says, “Dahil isang diumanong void ab initio o invalid o walang epekto ang impeachment laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte dahil na-violate di umano nito ang ating Constitution at labag sa ating Saligang Batas.”
(The impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte is void ab initio or invalid because it violates the Constitution.)
The facts: The SC has not released a ruling declaring the impeachment of the Vice President as invalid. There are no decisions posted on the SC website relating to the impeachment. The video merely cites the opinion pieces of former newscaster Jay Sonza and the Facebook page Optic Politics — both of which are neither legal nor constitutional experts.
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Void ab initio: The concept of void ab initio, or void from the start, is commonly used in business contracts as well as the Family Code. It is often used for annulment, by declaring a marriage null and void from the very beginning.
According to retired SC Justice Vicente Mendoza, “Only courts declare anything void, whether void ab initio or otherwise, also known as voidable. That is a judicial function.” (READ: Amnesty aside, can presidents declare anything ‘void ab initio’?)
Impeachment: On February 5, the House of Representatives impeached the Vice President, two months since three impeachment complaints were filed at the lower house. Talks of an impeachment first surfaced in November 2023, following the controversy over the Office of the Vice President’s misuse of its confidential funds.
Members of the lower chamber who voted for impeachment totaled 240 out of 306. The number was more than one-third of the members required for impeachment under the 1987 Constitution.
Alleged betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes were cited as grounds for Duterte’s impeachment.
Asked if she’s confident of an acquittal during trial, Duterte said, “I haven’t counted the possible votes in the Senate. We’re not there yet. Our legal team is still in the preparation of the defense and what we will do moving forward.”
A two-thirds vote from the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, is needed to convict Duterte and bar her from future public office. Senate President Chiz Escudero said, however, that no trial will take place during the Senate break, adding that it would likely begin after the President’s State of the Nation Address in July.
The articles of impeachment were passed on the same day that Congress adjourned for its session break in light of the upcoming midterm elections. Seven senators are currently up for reelection. – Ramon Franco Verano/Rappler.com
Ramon Franco Verano is a graduate of Rappler’s volunteer program. He is a fourth year History student at the University of Santo Tomas. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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