The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision declaring the Articles of Impeachment against the vice president unconstitutional for violating the one-year rule under the 1987 Constitution.

"The decision of the Honorable Court affirms what we had maintained from the outset–that the 4th impeachment complaint is constitutionally infirm," Duterte's legal team said in a statement.

"This unanimous decision has once again upheld the rule of law and reinforced the constitutional limits against abuse of the impeachment process," they added.

The defense team noted that they remain prepared to address the allegations at the proper time and before the appropriate forum.