Civil society leaders and progressive groups filed two separate impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, alleging betrayal of public trust, constitutional violations, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high crimes.
The Makabayan coalition endorsed the first complaint, with former lawmakers France Castro and Neri Colmenares among the complainants. A second complaint was filed by a group led by Tindig Pilipinas coconvener Kiko Aquino Dee and joined by Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima.
The first complaint cites three grounds, including alleged gross abuse of discretionary powers over P612.5 million in confidential funds from December 2022 to the third quarter of 2023. It also accuses Duterte of disregarding transparency and accountability by allegedly ordering subordinates to prepare implausible accomplishment reports supported by fabricated liquidation documents submitted to the Commission on Audit. The complaint further alleges dereliction of duty for refusing to recognize congressional oversight during budget deliberations.
The second complaint lists five articles of impeachment, accusing Duterte of constitutional violations, graft and corruption, bribery and unexplained wealth, gross incompetence and abuse of power, and tolerating extrajudicial killings while participating in efforts to destabilize the government.
Petitioners filed the complaints after asserting that the one-year constitutional bar on impeachment cases had lapsed following a Supreme Court ruling that declared last year’s impeachment complaint unconstitutional.
However, House Committee on Justice Chair Gerville Luistro asked the Supreme Court to clarify conflicting interpretations of the one-year prohibition. Luistro said some lawmakers count the period from the Feb. 5, 2025 complaint filed by more than one-third of the House, which would allow a new filing starting Feb. 6, 2026. Others refer to the Dec. 2, 2024 complaint, which they say would set the lapse on Jan. 15, 2026.
In a July 2025 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the impeachment complaint transmitted to the Senate was unconstitutional for violating the one-year rule under the 1987 Constitution. In a resolution released Jan. 29, 2026, the court denied with finality the House’s motion for reconsideration and said the 10-session-day period should be counted from the filing of the first complaint on Dec. 2, 2024.
Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had no involvement in the filing of the new complaints. Palace press officer Claire Castro said the administration was not responsible for the move.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor said the House plans to revise its impeachment rules to make procedures clearer.