A group of leftist activists has submitted a second impeachment complaint against the Vice President of the Philippines, citing allegations of improper use of government funds, as well as a call for her disqualification from future public office. On Wednesday, this complaint, backed by at least 74 activists including human rights defenders, labor representatives, and student leaders, was officially presented to the House of Representatives. The political climate surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte has been fraught with tensions, and she has yet to respond to this latest complaint, nor to a previous one filed on Monday.
Sara Duterte, who is 46 years old and a trained lawyer, is the daughter of the former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration was marked by a violent anti-drug campaign linked to numerous fatalities. The International Criminal Court is currently conducting investigations into the possibility of these actions constituting crimes against humanity. Notably, Duterte has had a contentious relationship with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom she threatened with death during an online conference on November 23.
In light of these threats, government investigators have launched a criminal probe involving Duterte’s remarks directed towards Marcos, his wife, and the House Speaker, who is a cousin and political ally to the President. Duterte has since attempted to clarify that her remarks were not direct threats, but rather concerns for her safety.
The latest impeachment complaint specifically accuses Duterte of “betrayal of public trust” related to the alleged illegal use of 612.5 million pesos (roughly $10.3 million) in confidential funds. The activists claim that not only were these funds misappropriated, but Duterte and her team purportedly attempted to conceal these actions through the submission of false documents to the Commission on Audit and hindered congressional investigations.
Notably, the complaint highlights a period in December 2022 when her office allegedly expended 125 million pesos ($2 million) over just 11 days during the Christmas season, resulting in questionable charges for “safe houses,” unreported confidential information, and funding for rewards that lacked transparent justification.
“This misuse of confidential funds demonstrates a significant betrayal of the public’s trust,” stated Liza Maza, a key figure from the Makabayan political coalition. “This is not merely a minor infraction; it reflects systematic misuse and theft of state resources.” Renato Reyes, representing another leftist political group called Bayan, emphasized that impeachment serves as a necessary measure against impunity and accountability for public officials.
Earlier on Monday, another group of civil society activists, including Roman Catholic priests and advocates for democracy, filed an initial impeachment petition comprising around 24 allegations against Duterte. These range from her threats against Marcos to her purported involvement in extra-judicial killings linked to her father’s anti-drug operations. She has also faced criticism for her handling of tensions with China over the contested South China Sea.
The impeachment complaints will be scrutinized by the House of Representatives, which is largely composed of allies of President Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who has had his own conflicts with Duterte. The process of reviewing these complaints may extend for several weeks or months. Congress is scheduled to take a break for the Christmas season from December 20, returning on January 13, at which point many legislators will begin campaigning for the May 12 midterm elections.
Currently, the House is also investigating the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds managed by Duterte during her tenure as vice president and education secretary, a post she has vacated. A series of contentious hearings have seen her often sidestep detailed responses. Furthermore, Philippine authorities have raised criminal complaints against Duterte and her security team, following a conflict in Congress that arose from the brief detention of her chief of staff amid allegations of obstructing congressional inquiries regarding fund misuse.
The National Bureau of Investigation has summoned Duterte for questioning on December 11 concerning her threats against other government officials. Despite their successful electoral campaign in 2022, which had them winning overwhelming support as a ticket, the relationship between Marcos and Duterte has soured due to differing political stances. In the Philippines, the positions of vice president and president are elected separately, historically resulting in rival factions leading the country’s political landscape.