2 Out of 4 Impeachment Raps vs VP Sara Duterte Declared 'Sufficient in Form' — Substance Debate Set for Today
The House Committee on Justice has declared the third and fourth impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte to be 'sufficient in form,' clearing the way for a critical debate on whether they are also sufficient in substance — scheduled for Tuesday, March 3.
The third complaint, endorsed by Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima and filed by priests and lawyers on February 9, alleges that Duterte committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayed public trust through the misuse of confidential funds allocated to the OVP and DepEd during 2022-2023.
Committee Chair Gerville Luistro of Batangas shot down claims that the Supreme Court had already dismissed the charges. 'The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the allegations. It did not conduct a trial. It did not absolve anyone of wrongdoing,' Luistro clarified, noting the Court's ruling was limited to the one-year bar rule.
The fourth complaint was filed on February 18 by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera and endorsed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. and Deputy Speaker Francisco Paolo Ortega V. It also centers on betrayal of public trust and the confidential funds controversy that has dogged Duterte since 2024.
Today's debate on substance will determine whether the complaints move forward to the next stage of impeachment proceedings. With two of four complaints advancing and a first complaint already set aside in a 22-10 vote, the political chess match over Duterte's fate in Congress continues to intensify.
Source: The Manila Times
