A third impeachment complaint was filed Thursday against Vice President Sara Duterte by a coalition of religious groups, priests, and lawyers. The complaint alleges betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and misuse of at least ₱612 million in confidential funds during her tenure at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Basis of the Complaint
Lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan, representing the complainants, said the impeachment is based on findings from the House Good Government and Public Accountability Committee, which investigated Duterte’s use of confidential funds.
The complaint accuses Duterte of:
- Failure to provide proof of legitimate activities related to confidential funds, such as payments for rewards or evidence of successful information-gathering efforts.
- Deliberately concealing the absence of surveillance or intelligence activities.
- Using fictitious individuals to sign acknowledgment receipts, including names like Mary Grace Piattos and Kokoy Villamin.
“Her deliberate intent was crystal clear… She showed gross faithlessness against public trust. She cannot be Vice President a minute longer,” the complainants said.
The complaint has been endorsed by Camarines Sur Representative Gabriel Bordado and House Deputy Minority Leader Lex Anthony Colada, fulfilling the requirement for verification.
Call for Accountability
The complainants stressed that impeachment is a crucial safeguard against corruption at the highest levels of government.
“If the House allows the Vice President to get away with this, what will stop other officials from misappropriating public funds by using the excuse of confidentiality? What will stop corrupt politicians from using fictitious individuals to cover their crimes?” the complaint read.
Duterte’s Response
Vice President Duterte, in an earlier statement, welcomed the impeachment cases, viewing them as an opportunity to address the allegations.
“It’s okay they filed an impeachment case since I’ll only be the one who’s being attacked. My staff in the OVP and DepEd will no longer be involved. I can finally answer what they are accusing me of,” Duterte said.
Previous Complaints
The latest filing follows two earlier impeachment complaints, also citing alleged misuse of confidential funds, endorsed by representatives from Akbayan, ACT Teachers, Gabriela, and Kabataan party-lists.
The impeachment proceedings come as public scrutiny intensifies over the use of confidential funds and the broader implications for accountability in government.