Philippines top court bars impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte

ISTANBUL

The Philippines Supreme Court on Friday barred impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The court barred lawmakers from such proceedings for one year “on grounds of due process,” Rappler News reported.

It added that the impeachment motion could be filed again after the time stipulated had lapsed.

Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was impeached on Feb. 5 when more than two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives signed a petition to oust her.

She has been accused of misusing funds while leading the Department of Education.

The impeachment motion was pending in the Senate, the upper house of the Philippines' parliament, which has the sole power to try and decide all impeachment cases.