MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte dismissed the newly filed impeachment complaint against her as a “piece of paper” lacking evidence, characterizing the move on Saturday, February 7, 2026, as a calculated act of harassment by the Akbayan party and its leaders.
In a video message posted on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Facebook page, Duterte specifically targeted Senator Risa Hontiveros, the chair emeritus of Akbayan, claiming the impeachment is a vehicle for the Senator’s 2028 presidential campaign.
Duterte’s Counter-Allegations The Vice President sought to delegitimize the proponents of the complaint:
- Political Motive: Duterte claimed that Akbayan has “no credibility” because its most prominent leader, Hontiveros, has openly expressed an openness to running for president in the next national election.
- “Fishing Expedition”: She described the House investigations into the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds as a fruitless search for wrongdoing. She specifically mocked the “Mary Grace Piattos” controversy, arguing that investigators have failed to show a “direct violation” of fund use.
- Alleged Bribery: Without providing specific names, the Vice President alleged that some lawmakers were “selling their signatures” to support the complaint in exchange for promises of future funding.
The Proponents’ Response Pro-impeachment leaders were quick to counter Duterte’s dismissive tone:
- “Reeks of Fear”: Akbayan president Rafaela David argued that the Vice President’s decision to release a video message indicates she is “rattled” despite her claims that the complaint has no merit. David predicted that Duterte would become the first vice president in Philippine history to be impeached twice.
- Unanswered Charges: Rep. Leila de Lima, who supports the bid, noted that the current complaint contains the same serious allegations of betrayal of public trust that led to the 2025 impeachment, which Duterte “has never answered.” De Lima emphasized that the previous case was nullified by the Supreme Court on a technicality, not because the evidence was weak.
Legal and Political Context
- Previous Impeachment: In February 2025, 215 House members voted to impeach Duterte. However, the Supreme Court nullified the proceedings in July 2025 because earlier complaints filed in December 2024 had already triggered the one-year constitutional bar against initiating multiple cases against the same official.
- Hontiveros’ Position: While Hontiveros has stated she is “open to running” as a common candidate for a united opposition in 2028, she has not officially declared her candidacy. In the video, Duterte played a snippet of a 2024 speech by Hontiveros warning that a Duterte comeback remains a “real and present danger” to the country.
The new impeachment complaints—filed by Akbayan and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)—reiterate charges of graft, corruption, and the unconstitutional use of public funds. The House is expected to include these complaints in its Order of Business on Monday, February 9, marking the official start of “Take 2” in the effort to unseat the Vice President.