By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter
THE House of Representatives began impeachment proceedings against Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio on Monday because it referred 4 complaints against her to the committee tasked to evaluate whether the accusations have merit and may advance to a full trial.
4 separate complaints filed by civil groups and activists collectively alleged Ms. Duterte misused P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds allocated to her office and the Education department when she sat as its secretary from 2022 to 2024. The complaints centered on accusations of corruption, unexplained wealth violating the Structure, and betraying public trust.
The impeachment drive against Ms. Duterte comes as she announced her presidential bid in 2028, where she has emerged as a powerful contender based on earlier polls. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is proscribed to a single six-year term and is yet to call a transparent successor amid a bitter political feud with the Dutertes.
The House Justice Committee, dominated by Mr. Marcos’ allies, will determine whether the allegations against the 47-year-old lawyer meet the brink to advance to the House floor, where one-third of lawmakers must vote to either endorse the complaints and send them to the Senate for trial — where Ms. Duterte risks being permanently barred from office — or dismiss the cases.
Sending the complaints to the committee also blocks other groups from filing separate charges and prevents the Vice-President from facing one other impeachment bid throughout the same calendar yr.
Ms. Duterte was impeached in February 2025 with the endorsement of 200 congressmen, allowing the chamber to send the fees on to the Senate for trial. The ouster bid, nonetheless, died within the Senate after it archived the complaints, which accused her of fund misuse, unexplained wealth, destabilization efforts, and plotting to assassinate President Marcos, his wife and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. She has denied all charges.
“It’d be higher for the complaints to move the committee,” Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V told reporters before the complaints’ referral. “Even the impeachment against the President went through there.”
Mr. Marcos survived an impeachment bid, which accused him of corruption, violation of the Structure, and betrayal of public trust, after the Justice committee dismissed the allegations as lacking merit. The committee also ruled the allegations should not be discussed.
The dismissed complaints alleged that Mr. Marcos had benefited from questionable government contracts linked to defective infrastructure projects, receiving kickbacks and institutionalized corruption through a budget allocation formula for congressional districts.
Additional accusations included his alleged involvement in authorizing the arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte for proceedings on the International Criminal Court and claims of the President’s alleged drug use.
Lawmakers at the moment are more politically sensitive to impeachment proceedings against Ms. Duterte, and it stays to be seen whether they may apply the identical strict threshold utilized in the Marcos case, said Ederson DT. Tapia, a political science professor on the University of Makati.
“Much will rely on the strength of the complaints filed and on the prevailing political climate,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “If public pressure intensifies, interpretations may change into more flexible.”
“We’re all political animals at the tip of the day,” said Mr. Ortega, who sponsored a fourth grievance against Ms. Duterte. “They [the committee] will assess the merits of the impeachment case.”
The fourth grievance alleged that the Vice-President failed to totally disclose assets in her statement of assets, liabilities and net value and could have amassed wealth disproportionate to her lawful income.
The case is looking for a forensic review of bank records, property transfers, and other financial documents to find out whether public funds were converted into private assets and whether her declared net value accurately reflects her financial position.