Vice President Sara Duterte is facing two new impeachment complaints filed by rights groups and leftist activists alleging misuse of public funds, bribery and threats against senior officials. The complaints mirror a prior effort that the Supreme Court dismissed last year for violating constitutional safeguards. Duterte's lawyer, Michael Poa, said they will contest the allegations through proper legal channels, while additional Supreme Court procedures and a Senate with more Duterte allies could make conviction more difficult.
Two New Impeachment Complaints Filed Against Philippine VP Sara Duterte
FILE PHOTO: Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte delivers a statement following her impeachment by the lower house of the Congress, in her office at Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines, February 7, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/ File Photo
MANILA, Feb 2 (Reuters) — Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte was hit on Monday with two fresh impeachment complaints filed by rights groups and leftist activists, who accuse her of betraying public trust, corruption and other offenses.
The daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte is widely viewed as a leading contender for the 2028 presidential race. She survived a similar impeachment effort last year after the Supreme Court dismissed the bid for violating constitutional safeguards.
A lawyer for Duterte said the new filing "comes as no surprise." "We are prepared to confront these allegations squarely through the proper constitutional processes," her counsel Michael Poa said in a statement.
Bitter Battle
The complaints deepen a bitter political rivalry between Vice President Duterte and former ally President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Marcos, barred from reelection by the single-term limit, is widely expected to back a successor ahead of the next presidential contest.
Civil society organizations and leftist groups lodged the two complaints on similar grounds to last year's effort. Allegations include the misuse of public funds, bribery related to government contracts and threats to kill President Marcos, the first lady and a former House speaker who is the president's cousin. Complainants also accused Duterte of stonewalling congressional inquiries into these matters.
"The Constitution does not permit such cynical disregard for public trust. It does not allow the Vice President to treat public funds as a personal war chest while stonewalling all attempts at oversight," one complaint said.
Duterte has previously denied these accusations. Meanwhile, President Marcos is separately facing an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives; the president's communications office said the new complaints against Duterte are a matter for Congress to decide and emphasized respect for due process.
Challenging Bid
This year's impeachment push must also clear additional procedural hurdles imposed by the Supreme Court in its ruling last year. Last year's midterm elections brought more Duterte allies into the Senate—the body that would serve as jurors in an impeachment trial—potentially complicating prospects for conviction.
"It's even more challenging now, I would say, given this Supreme Court final ruling," Senator Risa Hontiveros told foreign correspondents at a forum.
(Reporting by Mikhail Flores; Editing by Martin Petty)
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