MANILA, Philippines — Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. on Thursday sent a clear message to Vice President Sara Duterte: her announcement of a 2028 presidential bid does not grant her immunity or a “free pass” from the four active impeachment complaints currently moving through the House of Representatives.
“Candidacy announcements do not erase accountability,” Abante said during a press briefing. “Running for president is not a defense to grave allegations. It is precisely why accountability must be faced squarely and promptly.”
Key Points from the Impeachment Crisis:
- Fourth Complaint Filed: A fourth impeachment complaint was officially filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera and endorsed by Abante and Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V on Wednesday. This complaint has now been transmitted to the Office of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.
- Primary Allegations: The latest complaint cites three categories of offenses:
- Culpable Violation of the Constitution: Related to the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds.
- Betrayal of Public Trust: Including non-declaration of assets and abuse of power.
- Graft, Corruption, and High Crimes: Specifically citing bribery and public threats made by the Vice President against the lives of President Marcos, the First Lady, and the Speaker of the House.
- Timing of the 2028 Bid: Duterte announced her presidential run just hours before the fourth complaint was filed. Abante dismissed the timing, stating that the House is focused on her fitness for her current office in 2026, not a future one in 2028.
- Timeline for Action: Under the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on impeachment schedules, Speaker Dy has until March 2 to transmit the first two complaints (filed on February 2) to the House Committee on Justice.
Political Breakdown
The impeachment proceedings mark the ultimate collapse of the UniTeam alliance. The relationship began to sour in 2023 over confidential fund disputes and culminated in Duterte’s resignation as Education Secretary in 2024.
While a previous 2025 impeachment attempt was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on procedural grounds (violating the one-year-bar rule), the current filings represent a new, valid legal process for 2026. Abante emphasized that the impeachment process exists to handle situations where a public official’s actions raise “serious questions of integrity and fitness to serve.”