A coalition of leftist activists lodged a second impeachment complaint against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, citing alleged misuse of government funds and seeking her permanent disqualification from public office, reports AP.
The complaint, supported by at least 74 activists including leaders from human rights, labour, and student organisations, was submitted to the House of Representatives, highlighting the ongoing political challenges faced by Vice President Duterte. She has yet to comment on this new complaint or the first one filed on Monday.
Impeachment complaint filed against Philippine VP Duterte for threatening President Marcos
Duterte, a 46-year-old lawyer, is the daughter of the controversial former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration was marked by a violent anti-drug campaign that resulted in thousands of deaths and is under investigation by the International Criminal Court for possible crimes against humanity.
Her main political rival is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom she publicly threatened with death during an online news conference on November 23.
A criminal probe has been initiated into her threats against Marcos, his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin and ally of the president. Duterte clarified that her statements were not intended as a direct threat but as expressions of concern for her safety.
Philippines vice president publicly threatens President Marcos with assassination
The latest impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of breaching public trust through the unlawful use and mismanagement of 612.5 million pesos ($10.3 million) in confidential funds. The complainants allege that she and her team tried to conceal these discrepancies by submitting forged reports and obstructing congressional investigations.
It claims that in December 2022, Duterte’s office spent 125 million pesos ($2 million) over 11 days during the Christmas season on dubious expenses, including renting "safe houses," paying for unidentified confidential information, and providing unclear rewards.
“Misuse of confidential funds is a profound betrayal of the people,” said Liza Maza from the Makabayan coalition. “This is not just a technical breach but a systematic plunder of public resources.”
Renato Reyes of the Bayan coalition added, “Impeachment is essential for addressing impunity. Citizens and taxpayers must hold officials accountable.”
Earlier, a group of civil society activists, including priests and pro-democracy advocates, submitted an initial impeachment case citing approximately 24 alleged crimes and irregularities. These included Duterte’s threats against Marcos, alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings linked to her father's anti-drug campaign, and her perceived failure to counter Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea.
The House of Representatives, dominated by Marcos allies and Speaker Martin Romualdez—who is also at odds with Duterte—will review the impeachment complaints. This process could take weeks or even months, as Congress is set to go into its Christmas break on December 20 and reconvene on January 13. Many lawmakers will then begin campaigning for the May 12 midterm elections.
Duterte's offices, as vice president and former education secretary, have been under investigation for their handling of confidential and intelligence funds. She has since stepped down from her education role.
Duterte has avoided providing detailed responses during tense televised hearings. Additionally, Philippine police have filed criminal charges against her and her security detail for allegedly assaulting authorities and defying orders during an incident at Congress involving her chief of staff, who was accused of obstructing the funds inquiry.
The National Bureau of Investigation has summoned Duterte to appear on December 11 regarding her threats against the president.
Duterte and Marcos won their 2022 election campaign in a landslide as running mates but have since had significant political differences. In the Philippines, the vice presidency and presidency are elected separately, leading to a situation where rivals may hold the highest political offices.