📷Sen. Leila de Lima
A group of organizations collectively filed an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte in the House of Representatives on Monday, December 2.
The coalition, comprising Magdalo, Akbayan, Mamamayang Liberal, members of the Catholic Church, and student leaders, seeks to indict Duterte for betrayal of public trust, culpable violations of the Constitution, and other high crimes.
“Vice President Duterte deserves to be impeached for her abuse of power and plunder of the nation’s coffers,” Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña, who is endorsing the complaint, said in a statement.
The Filipino people deserve a vice president who is ethical, accountable, and committed to public service — not one who weaponizes authority for personal gain,” Cendaña added.
The coalition did not provide further details about the grounds for impeachment, and the vice president was unavailable for comment.
This development marks the latest chapter in a high-profile public feud among three of the Philippines’ top officials, stemming from the breakdown of a powerful political alliance that contributed to Marcos’ overwhelming victory in the 2022 elections.
The 1987 Constitution grants the House of Representatives the exclusive authority to initiate impeachment proceedings, while the Senate holds the power to conduct the trial.
According to the Constitution, an impeachment complaint can be directly filed by a member of the House. Alternatively, any citizen may file a complaint, provided it is endorsed by a House member.
Duterte has dismissed the House’s investigations into her use of public funds as political persecution. In a fiery outburst, she even alleged that she had ordered an assassin to target Marcos, his wife Liza, and Speaker Martin Romualdez in the event of her death.
If the House impeaches Duterte, she would not be removed from office immediately but would face a trial in the Senate. A conviction would lead to her removal from office. (TCSP)
