THE GREAT DIVIDE: Marcos Abandons the Shield as the “One-Year Bar” Falls—Is This the End for VP Sara?

The fragile “Uniteam” that once promised a golden era for the Philippines has officially disintegrated into a theater of political warfare. On this Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the hallowed halls of Malacañang Palace issued a statement that sounded more like a death knell than a routine briefing. The message was clear, cold, and calculated: President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will not lift a finger to save Vice President Sara Duterte.

The headline currently paralyzing the nation’s capital reads like a political thriller: “PALACE BETRAYAL? Marcos Steps Aside as Congress Prepares a February Execution: The Impeachment of Sara Duterte is Back!”

This is an investigative chronicle into the strategic silence of the President, the ticking clock of the “One-Year Bar,” and the looming February explosion that threatens to rewrite the history of the Republic.

I. THE COLD SHOULDER: Malacañang’s Tactical Neutrality

In a press briefing that sent shockwaves through the Vice President’s camp in Davao, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro made the administration’s position brutally transparent. When asked if the President would intervene to stop the impending impeachment storm, the answer was a chilling “No.”

“Whatever happens regarding the impeachment, that is under the jurisdiction of Congress,” Castro stated with a surgical precision that left no room for hope. “The President will not interfere.”

By invoking the “jurisdiction of Congress,” Marcos has effectively withdrawn the executive shield that once protected his running mate. In the game of thrones, silence is often the loudest command. By doing nothing, the President is doing everything—giving the green light to the Vice President’s fiercest critics to strike.

II. THE FEB 5 COUNTDOWN: The Ghost of the One-Year Bar

To understand the urgency of this moment, one must look at the calendar. On February 5, 2026, a legal invisible wall will vanish.

Exactly one year ago, the House of Representatives moved to impeach the Vice President, only to have the Supreme Court nullify the articles due to a violation of the “one-year bar” rule—a constitutional provision preventing more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official within a single year.

The Investigation into the “February Strike”:

The Makabayan Bloc’s Readiness: Rep. Antonio Tinio has confirmed that the left-wing coalition is not just ready; they are “armed” with a new complaint.

The Legal Loophole: Once the clock strikes midnight on February 5, the “immunity” expires. The floodgates will open, and the Vice President will face the full weight of a Congress that has grown increasingly hostile to the Duterte name.

III. THE JUSTICE ARGUMENT: “Accountability Over Unity”

Perhaps the most damaging blow from the Palace was the reframing of the “Unity” slogan. For years, “Pagkakaisa” (Unity) was the shield used to deflect criticism. Today, Malacañang flipped the script.

“Accountability should not be set aside,” Usec. Castro declared. “There will be no unity if there are lingering issues that must be answered. Those who must be held accountable, must be held accountable.”

This is a seismic shift in rhetoric. The Palace is no longer calling for peace; they are calling for an accounting. By prioritizing “accountability” over “unity,” the Marcos administration has signaled that the Vice President is no longer a partner, but a liability that needs to be settled in the court of public—and congressional—opinion.

IV. THE DAVAO SILENCE: A Storm Brewing in the South

As Malacañang speaks, the silence from the Office of the Vice President is deafening. Insiders suggest that the Duterte camp is currently in “bunker mode,” consolidating their remaining loyalists in the House and Senate.

[Image: A split screen showing the Malacañang seal on the left and the OVP seal on the right, with a jagged lightning bolt cracking the center]

The mystery remains: What is in the new impeachment complaint? Whispers from the Makabayan bloc suggest it involves confidential funds, extra-judicial links, and alleged constitutional subversion. If the previous complaint was a warning, this one is being described as a “kill shot.”

V. THE POLITICAL CHESSBOARD: Who Wins the 2026 Fallout?

Our investigation into the 2026 political landscape reveals a high-stakes gamble:

Marcos’s Clean Hands: By staying “neutral,” the President avoids being seen as the aggressor, letting the Makabayan bloc do the “dirty work” of dismantling his rival.

The Senate’s Role: Even if the House impeaches, the Senate will act as the jury. The real mystery is whether the “Idol” senators and the veteran politicians will follow the Palace’s lead or protect the Duterte legacy.

Public Sentiment: Will the Filipino people see this as justice, or as a “demolition job” designed to clear the path for the 2028 elections?

VI. THE VERDICT: A Valentine’s Day Massacre?

As we head toward February, the Philippines finds itself on the precipice of a constitutional crisis. The President has washed his hands of the matter, leaving the Vice President to face her accusers alone.

The “One-Year Bar” was a cage that protected Sara Duterte; in one month, that cage becomes a door through which her political enemies will walk. Malacañang has said they will not interfere—but in the world of power, choosing not to stop a fire is the same as letting the building burn.

The clock is ticking. February 5 is coming. And for the Vice President, the “Unity” of the past is now a ghost.