Round 2: House begins impeachment proceedings against Sara Duterte

MANILA, Philippines – The House justice committee kicks off on Monday, March 2, the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

This is the second time the House will try to remove the Vice President from office, although the impeachment bid will take a longer route this time.

Unlike the impeachment saga of 2024 to 2025, none of the four impeachment complaints filed against her in 2026 garnered the support of at least one-third of the House. This closes the door on the constitutional shortcut that allows the chamber to skip committee hearings and immediately transmit the complaint to the Senate.

Of the four complaints, three remain active. The second, filed by Tindig Pilipinas and endorsed by Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima and Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña, was withdrawn on Sunday, March 1.

The petitioners said they are instead supporting the third complaint to speed up proceedings.

De Lima was also the endorser of the third complaint, which was filed by members of the Catholic Church.

The first complaint was endorsed by the three-member Makabayan bloc, while the fourth complaint — the only petition with the backing of administration-allied lawmakers — was endorsed by Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega and Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante.

The issues raised against Duterte in the new impeachment drive remain the same — her alleged misuse of confidential funds, her alleged bribery of education officials, her alleged unexplained wealth, and her apparent threats to the life of the President and his family, among others. The Vice President has issued blanket denials but has not responded in detail to each allegation.

On Friday, February 27, the House’s second-largest bloc, the National Unity Party, said it is unlikely to support another impeachment drive against the Vice President unless new compelling evidence arises.

The statement comes a week after Duterte made an early declaration of her presidential candidacy for 2028.

Watch the livestream of the hearing on this page on Monday, 10 am. – Rappler.com