MANILA, Philippines — The legal and political pressure on Vice President Sara Duterte intensified on Monday, February 9, 2026, as a third impeachment complaint was filed in the House of Representatives. This latest petition, led by members of the clergy and prominent lawyers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), joins two other complaints filed just days earlier.
The 98-page complaint was endorsed by Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and submitted to the office of House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil.
Serious Allegations The new complaint outlines a wide array of charges, including:
- Misuse of Confidential Funds: Alleged gross abuse involving P500 million in confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President (2022-2023) and P112.5 million for the Department of Education (2023).
- Betrayal of Public Trust: Accusations of amassing unexplained wealth and failing to accurately disclose assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
- High Crimes: Allegations of “contracting to murder or assassinate” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and the former House Speaker.
- Sedition and Insurrection: Charges related to acts of political destabilization.
- Bribery: Allegations of corrupting and bribing officials within the Department of Education during her tenure as Secretary.
The Complainants The group of petitioners includes Catholic priests Joel Saballa, Joselito Sarabia, Edilberto Baculi, and Rogelio del Rosario; Pastor Leonard Arevalo; and lawyers Jalilo dela Torre, Democrito Barcenas, and Lourdes Barcenas. Many of these individuals were part of a previous impeachment attempt in December 2024 that was later voided by the Supreme Court.
Legal Context: The “One-Year Bar” The filing comes after the Supreme Court dismissed with finality the House’s previous articles of impeachment in January 2026, citing a violation of the “one-year bar” rule (which prohibits more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official within a year).
- The New Timeline: While the previous attempt was voided on July 25, 2025, legal experts—including Dean Tranquil Salvador III—suggest that under the Court’s recent reinterpretation of “session days,” the window to file new complaints opened as early as January 15, 2026.
Reactions
- VP Duterte: The Vice President has dismissed the complaints as “politically motivated harassment.” She specifically accused Sen. Risa Hontiveros and the Akbayan party-list of using the process to advance presidential ambitions for 2028.
- VP Spokesperson: Michael Poa stated that the OVP expected these filings and will address them through “appropriate constitutional processes.”
- Malacañang: The Palace has distanced itself from the proceedings, maintaining that the “proper process” and “rule of law” must prevail, while emphasizing that accountability for corruption is necessary to restore public trust.
The House is now tasked with consolidating these three complaints as it moves toward a formal hearing in the committee on justice.