MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte reached a critical milestone on Monday, March 2, 2026, as the House Committee on Justice unanimously declared the remaining two complaints against her sufficient in form.
Initially, four impeachment complaints were filed against the Vice President in February 2026. Following Monday’s hearing, here is the current status of each:
- Complaints 3 & 4 (MOVING FORWARD): Declared sufficient in form. These complaints will now move to the next stage of deliberation: sufficiency in substance.
- Complaint 1 (SET ASIDE): The committee “set aside” the first complaint (filed by the Makabayan bloc on Feb. 2) because it was found to violate the one-year bar rule on filing impeachment complaints against the same official.
- Complaint 2 (WITHDRAWN): Civil society group Tindig Pilipinas (led by Kiko Aquino Dee) and endorsers Rep. Leila de Lima and Rep. Percival Cendaña formally withdrew this complaint. They chose to consolidate their efforts by lending full support to the third complaint, which features similar allegations and evidence.
The active complaints focus on several high-profile accusations:
- Misuse of Funds: Alleged gross abuse of discretionary powers involving ₱612 million in confidential funds within the OVP and DepEd.
- Death Threats: The fourth complaint, filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera, specifically highlights Duterte’s public online “death threats” made on Nov. 23, 2024, against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
- Other Charges: Betrayal of public trust, bribery, graft, and corruption.
Committee Chair and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro emphasized that the “one-year bar” (stemming from a July 2025 Supreme Court ruling) remains a strict procedural requirement. The committee’s decision to move forward with the third and fourth complaints signals that they believe these particular filings complied with the legal timeline.