MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is set to begin formal deliberations on the four impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte on March 2, 2026.
Key Details of the Proceedings:
- Committee Lead: The House Committee on Justice, chaired by Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, will handle the deliberations.
- The Complaints: There are currently four impeachment complaints in the pipeline. These include filings from the Makabayan Coalition (Feb 2), clergy and lawyers (Feb 9), and a recent fourth complaint from lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera.
- Primary Allegations: The Vice President is accused of:
- Betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.
- Misuse of over ₱612 million in confidential funds.
- Graft, corruption, bribery, and abuse of power.
- Alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
- Due Process: Rep. Luistro stated that if the complaints are found sufficient in form and substance, Duterte will be invited to reply. However, her attendance at the hearings is a “prerogative.” If she chooses not to attend, it will be considered a waiver of her right to be present.
Legal Context:
The 2026 proceedings come after the Supreme Court ruled in July 2025 that a previous impeachment attempt against Duterte was unconstitutional because it violated the rule against filing multiple impeachment processes against the same official within a single year. With the one-year ban now expired, the House is moving forward with the new batch of complaints.
Duterte’s Stance:
Despite the looming impeachment trial, Vice President Duterte remains defiant, having recently announced her intention to run for the Presidency in 2028.