A new impeachment case has been filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, reviving allegations that refused to disappear even after the Supreme Court shut down last year’s proceedings. The complaints, lodged just days after the High Court’s ruling became final, accuse Duterte of serious abuses tied to public funds, constitutional violations, and conduct unbecoming of the country’s second-highest official.
Two separate complaints were submitted to the House of Representatives. One was endorsed by lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc, the other by civil society groups led by Tindig Pilipinas. Together, they paint a picture that critics say goes beyond technical violations and into betrayal of public trust.
At the center of the accusations is Duterte’s handling of confidential funds during her time as vice president and as secretary of education. Lawmakers allege that ₱612.5 million in confidential funds were misused between late 2022 and 2023. Of that amount, ₱125 million was reportedly spent in just eleven days. The Commission on Audit later disallowed ₱73 million due to missing documentation, vague descriptions of supposed intelligence activities, and expenses that allegedly violated existing guidelines.
Complainants also accuse Duterte of mocking the audit process itself. They claim she submitted questionable liquidation reports, including receipts linked to allegedly fictitious names such as “Mary Grace Piattos.” For critics, these details symbolize a deeper disregard for oversight rather than clerical error.
What Sets This New Impeachment Case Apart
What distinguishes this new impeachment case from earlier attempts is the inclusion of testimony from Duterte’s former aide, Ramil Madriaga. According to the complaints, Madriaga alleged that he was instructed to deliver confidential funds to Duterte’s security aide, and that money tied to illegal gambling operations and drug-related activities helped finance her 2022 campaign. Duterte has denied these claims.
The complaints also revive an issue that shocked many Filipinos last year: Duterte’s public statements allegedly threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first lady, and a former House speaker. While Duterte previously dismissed the remarks as hyperbole, complainants argue they demonstrate conduct incompatible with her office.
Duterte welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent decision declaring the 2025 impeachment unconstitutional, calling the earlier effort an “abuse of the impeachment process.” Her lawyer, Michael Poa, said the latest filings were expected and warned against turning impeachment into a political spectacle driven by publicity rather than evidence.
Others see the High Court’s role differently. Several lawmakers and legal scholars criticized the ruling as judicial overreach, arguing that it rewrote impeachment rules and weakened one of the few tools available to hold powerful officials accountable. Senator Vicente Sotto III went further, calling impeachment under the current framework “an impossible dream.”
