MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on justice intensified its scrutiny of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, replaying viral videos that form the backbone of two remaining impeachment complaints against her.
The committee, chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, is currently determining the substance of two complaints:
- Feb. 9 Complaint: Filed by civil society groups, alleging misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, bribery and corruption at DepEd, and making death threats against President Marcos and his family.
- Feb. 18 Complaint: Filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera, alleging unexplained wealth and omissions in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
- The “Assassination Threats”: The committee replayed the Vice President’s viral Nov. 23, 2024, video in which she allegedly made death threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. Endorser Leila de Lima argued the threats were “very clear” and documented by the public.
- The “Bribe Envelopes”: A second video from a 2024 hearing was played, featuring former DepEd Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil Mercado. In the video, Mercado testified that she received nine envelopes containing cash from an assistant secretary, who claimed they came directly from Duterte.
- Controversial Safe Houses: Rep. Terry Ridon highlighted a “high likelihood” that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) spent ₱16 million for the rental of 34 safe houses in just 11 days. Ridon pointed out that the daily rate of ₱45,000 per safe house was “bloated” and likely improper if the houses were not located in high-end villages like Forbes Park or BGC.
Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay questioned the bribery allegations, noting that the complaint did not specify which contracts were supposedly being influenced. De Lima countered that the testimonies of the officers receiving the envelopes were sufficient facts to establish an act “attributable” to the Vice President.
Of the original four complaints, the Makabayan bloc’s Feb. 2 complaint was set aside for violating the one-year bar rule, while a complaint from Tindig Pilipinas was withdrawn so the group could support the more comprehensive Feb. 9 filing.