The Committee on Justice of the House of Representatives (HOR) of the Philippines voted the two remaining impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte are “sufficient in substance.”
With overwhelming votes – 54 in favor against a lone against a lone “no” vote – the committee said the complaints are ready to be submitted to the plenary for further debates on whether Duterte must face a full impeachment trial.
The decision follows the votes last Monday that said the grievances separately filed by civil society groups and a lawyer are “sufficient in form.”
READ: House committee finds two impeachment complaints vs Sara ‘sufficient in form’
The Vice President is accused of graft and corruption practices, such as amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose all her properties and interests in properties in her statement of assets and net worth (SALN).
Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima in her endorsement of the third complaint pointed out that Duterte’s signature appears in questionable disbursements of at least P500 million in confidential and intelligence funds.
Other committee members also recalled Duterte’s threat to have President Ferdinand Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and former HOR speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez assassinated should she herself be harmed.
Observers said today’s development was a foregone conclusion as it is a repeat of last year’s impeachment of Marcos’ bitter political rival.
Duterte however escaped a full impeachment trial in 2025 as allies in the Philippine Senate, using a pending motion at the Supreme Court as an excuse, stalled proceedings.
Marcos’ super-majority at the HOR exercised extra caution in this week’s proceedings, choosing to set-aside the first impeachment complaint endorsed by the Makabayan Coalition for possible violation of the one year ban rule on the filing of complaints against impeachable officials.
Makabayan’s three representatives voted in favor of the motion declaring sufficiency in substance.
The lone “no” vote was by QC Rep. Bong Suntay who drew widespread criticisms for “lewd” remarks against actor Anne Curtis in his attempt to defend Duterte in yesterday’s deliberations.
READ: San Beda alumni demand revocation of Suntay’s award following ‘lewd’ remarks
Duterte has yet to issue a statement on the decision.
She recently announced her candidacy for the presidency in the next national elections in 2028. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
