2 impeach raps vs VP remain; panel says ‘form’ OK
The remaining two of the four initial impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte hurdled their first test on Monday, when the committee on justice of the House of Representatives unanimously declared them sufficient in form.
The committee also on Monday “set aside” the first impeachment complaint, which the Makabayan bloc filed on Feb. 2, with Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, committee chair, noting the conclusion by the panel’s majority that the complaint violated the one-year bar on its filing.
Meanwhile, civil society group Tindig Pilipinas formally withdrew the second complaint it filed on Feb. 9 to give way to the third complaint, which the group now supported.
All four complaints accused the Vice President of betrayal of public trust, bribery, and graft and corruption, including the misuse of P612 million in confidential funds. Moreover, the fourth complaint, which lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera filed on Feb. 18, accuses Duterte of plotting to kill President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, based on her online death threats against them on Nov. 23, 2024.
One-year bar
Luistro was particularly mindful of the one-year bar rule on the filing of impeachment complaints — the basis of the Supreme Court’s July 25, 2025 ruling which declared as unconstitutional four earlier complaints against Duterte which were filed between December 2024 and February the next year.
“[That] prohibition is part of the procedural requirement which must be complied with also in filing an impeachment,” she later said in a press briefing, as she explained how her panel deliberated on the Makabayan complaint.
Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, committee vice chair, motioned to set aside that first complaint, saying it did not follow the one-year prohibition which only allowed the filing of a new complaint on Feb. 6 this year.
He noted further that the last of the four impeachment complaints which the high court found unconstitutional was filed on Feb. 5, 2025.
But ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio of the Makabayan bloc objected to Flores’ motion, saying the Supreme Court’s decision referred to the “commencement” of the impeachment complaints and not their actual filing.
“Let me emphasize the word used by the [high court] — may only be commenced — so our point here is that the SC is using a new language,” Tinio said.
Only 10 lawmakers, including Tinio and his two allies in the Makabayan bloc, voted against Flores’ motion, while 22 other lawmakers led by the committee heads voted to set aside the Makabayan complaint.
Formal withdrawal
Tindig Pilipinas co-convener Kiko Aquino Dee led the formal withdrawal of the second complaint as affirmed by its endorsers, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña.
In their letter to House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil, they said they were instead supporting the third complaint to expedite moves for accountability against the Vice President.
“We will be able to move faster, considering we just have two impeachment complaints left,” Luistro said.
“I believe there’s basis to say that they can move faster this time,” she added.
After hurdling the verification of sufficiency in form, the remaining two complaints will then be evaluated by the committee in terms of sufficiency in substance.
‘Constitutional process’
Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III assured the public on Monday that the impeachment complaints will be tackled fairly and the House hearings will not be a venue for trial by publicity.
“As Speaker of the House, I want to be clear about one thing: this is a constitutional process. It is not a political performance, and it is not a venue for trial by publicity,” Dy said in a statement before the House justice panel began its hearing on Monday.
“Under our Constitution, the House of Representatives has the solemn duty to determine whether impeachment complaints are sufficient in form and substance. That responsibility rests primarily with the Committee on Justice, under the leadership of Chairperson Gerville Luistro. The committee has been properly notified, and the proceedings will follow established House rules,” the Speaker also said.
According to Dy, all elected officials, including Duterte, deserve due process. At the same time, the chamber must listen to grievances from the complainants.
“Let me emphasize: impeachment is not about personalities. It is about institutions. It is not about taking sides. It is about upholding the Constitution,” he said.
“Every elected official, including the Vice President, deserves fairness, due process, and the presumption that allegations must be examined carefully and judiciously. At the same time, complainants who have invoked a constitutional mechanism are entitled to have their filings addressed in accordance with the law,” he added.
Dy said his role was “not to pre-judge the outcome, nor to influence the committee’s deliberations.”
“My responsibility is to ensure that the House functions with professionalism, order, and fidelity to the Constitution. We will allow the process to take its course fairly lawfully, and transparently. The House of Representatives will do its duty,” he added.
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