Metro Manila, Philippines – A group behind one of the four impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte had withdrawn its petition and backed another in hopes of fast tracking the case.
“Although we stand by the proper and timely filing of our complaint, in order to remove any obstacles against the process of seeking accountability and answers from Vice President Duterte, we believe it is most prudent to withdraw the said complaint,” complainants led by Tindig Pilipinas said in their letter to House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil on Monday, March 2.
Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña also withdrew their endorsement of the complaint, and manifested their support for the third ouster suit filed by a group of priests, nuns, and lawyers.
The lawmakers said the step was to avoid delay and detraction from the process.
The withdrawal came ahead of the start of the justice committee’s deliberations to determine the sufficiency in form and substance of the ouster suits.
While facing multiple complaints, Duterte only targeted the ouster suit filed by Tindig Pilipinas, brushing it off as baseless, slamming the Akbayan party-list and its chair emeritus, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, as having no credibility to support any ouster bid.
The three other petitioners and the order of their filing are:
- Progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and its allies
- Tindig Pilipinas and its allies
- Group of Rev. Fr. Joel Saballa, other religious people, and lawyers
- Lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera
De Lima both endorsed the second and third complaints, noting that the latter was an “improved version” of the archived articles of impeachment transmitted to the Senate in 2025.
The third complaint alleged Duterte committed culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, plunder and/or malversation, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
Issues mentioned were Duterte’s alleged fund misuse as vice president and former education secretary, her assassination threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, and her supposed unexplained wealth, among others.
“We believe that the impeachment process must proceed at the earliest possible time, free from procedural limbo and unnecessary legal delays that would otherwise obstruct the process,” Tindig Pilipinas said.
“Dapat nang managot si VP Sara sa pandarambong at pang-aabuso niya sa kapangyarihan sa lalong madaling panahon,” it said.
[Translation: VP Sara must be held accountable for her plunder and abuse of power in the soonest possible time.]
The complaints must pass the test for sufficiency in form and substance before the panel proceeds with notices and filing of pleadings, and the “hearing proper” to determine whether there are sufficient grounds of impeachment and probable cause.
In 2025, over 200 House members ousted Duterte through the fast-track mode of impeachment, which is triggered by a one-third endorsement of the chamber.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that the articles of impeachment sent to the Senate were unconstitutional for violating the one-year ban rule.
