Vice President Sara Duterte is once again facing impeachment after two separate complaints were filed in succession at the House of Representatives on Monday, Feb. 2. Her camp dismissed the move as expected and insisted that the allegations lack merit.
At 8:40 a.m., 45 members of militant groups and former Makabayan bloc lawmakers lodged the first complaint before House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil.
Just under two hours later, at 10:12 a.m., 17 members of civil society and religious organizations filed a second complaint.
The first was endorsed by ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co, while the second was backed by Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña.
The complaints accuse Duterte of betrayal of public trust, misuse of funds, and obstruction of audit.
The new cases did not wait until four days when SC finally lifts the one-year-ban on filing a new impeachment against her.
The high court reaffirmed this decision on January 28, rejecting a motion for reconsideration from House leaders of the 19th Congress.
Despite the fresh challenges, Duterte’s defense team, led by lawyer Michael Poa, maintained that the accusations lack “factual and legal basis.”
In a statement, they said: “We are prepared to confront these allegations squarely through the proper constitutional processes, confident that a fair and impartial review will demonstrate that the accusations are devoid of both factual and legal basis.” Poa added that the filing came “as no surprise.”
The back-to-back complaints against the Vice President coincided with the House Committee on Justice’s hearings on separate impeachment cases against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
Makabayan bloc members, who endorsed the new cases against Duterte, were also behind one of the complaints filed against Marcos last week.
Complainants emphasized that the allegations raised against Duterte during the 19th Congress have never been tested on their merits, insisting that the new filings are necessary to hold the Vice President accountable.
Duterte’s camp, however, reiterated the Supreme Court’s reminder that impeachment is not merely a political exercise shaped by “timed press releases or irresponsible viral posts,” but a constitutional mechanism requiring evidence, standards, and due process. (Ellson Quismorio, Joseph Pedrajas)
