MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives moved closer to a formal impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, February 9, 2026, as the Office of the Secretary General confirmed the transmittal of a third complaint to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.
House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil described the transmittal as a “ministerial duty” after her office verified that the 98-page document, endorsed by Rep. Leila de Lima, met all procedural requirements.
The Complainants and the Complaint The third rap was filed by a diverse coalition of clergy, civil society leaders, and legal practitioners, including priests Joel Saballa and Joselito Sarabia, along with several nuns, pastors, and lawyers. It joins two previous complaints filed since the one-year constitutional bar on impeachment attempts lapsed on January 15, 2026.
Eight Grounds for Impeachment The 98-page document lists several high-profile allegations against the Vice President:
- Misuse of Funds: Alleged irregularities involving more than P500 million in confidential funds for the OVP (2022-2023) and P112.5 million for the Department of Education (DepEd) under her tenure.
- Corruption: Allegations of bribing and corrupting DepEd officials.
- Assassination Plot: Contracting to murder President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
- Unexplained Wealth: Failure to accurately disclose properties and interests in her SALN.
- Culpable Violation of the Constitution: General betrayal of public trust.
- High Crimes: Allegations of sedition and insurrection, alongside acts of political destabilization.
Legislative Process and Strategy Rep. Leila de Lima noted that all three complaints are expected to be referred to the House Committee on Justice during Tuesday’s plenary session. This referral is strategic:
- One-Year Bar Rule: Once a complaint is referred to the committee, it triggers a new one-year constitutional bar, preventing any further impeachment filings against the Vice President for the next 12 months.
- Consolidation: The committee is expected to consolidate the multiple complaints for deliberation.
Duterte’s Response The Vice President’s legal team, led by Michael Poa, stated that they were not surprised by the additional filings. They maintain that the Vice President will address the allegations through the appropriate constitutional and legal channels.
As the House prepares to deliberate on these “high crimes,” the political landscape remains tense. The outcome of the Committee on Justice’s review will determine if the complaints proceed to a full House vote, where a one-third majority is required to send articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.