The Philippine Supreme Court has blocked an impeachment trial against Sara Duterte, marking a victory for the country's vice-president.
The lower house of the Philippine parliament had voted to impeach Duterte in February after she was accused of misusing public funds and threatening to kill President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
But a court spokesperson told reporters on Friday the impeachment vote violated a constitutional ban on having multiple impeachment proceedings in a year.
At a press conference on Friday, the court said it was not absolving Duterte of the charges she faces. But the ruling means she has been granted a reprieve from possible ousting, at least until February 2026.
This also gives her more time to gather support for a possible presidential run in the crucial run-up years to the 2028 general elections.
