Lawmakers say Sara Duterte wants to 'discredit' impending new impeachment complaint

Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference, February 7, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent statement linking the talks about a possible fresh impeachment complaint against her to the 2026 national budget may be an attempt to “discredit” the impending complaints, according to at least two lawmakers.

Duterte, in a statement, claimed that the impeachment is “being dangled once again as a bargaining chip right before the 2026 National Budget is passed”.  

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But ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio tagged this as “pure speculation”.

“Mere allegations, pure speculation. At this point, wala pa ngang bagong impeachment complaint. Kahit ‘yung sinasabing magre-refile by February ‘yung complainants? At this point, drawing pa lang ‘yan, kumbaga. And yet, nagsasalita siya as though kasado na ito. At mayroon nang kung anu-anong akusasyon,” he said.

“Ganito pa lang kaaga, gusto nang i-discredit ng bise presidente ang lehitimong complaint laban sa kanya,” Tinio added.

ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima also believes this is possible. She said Duterte’s remark was “unfair”, claiming that the Vice President has “serious accountability issues”.

“That's a possible reason kung bakit ganyan ang tono ng statement ng VP Sara. Para inuunahan na naman niya, pero ang malinaw dito ay mayroon din siyang serious issues of accountability… Hindi pa siya lusot,” De Lima said.

“Marami ang hindi nakakalimot na nandyan pa ‘yung kanyang accountability, nandyan pa ‘yung mga issues about the misuse of confidential funds and other issues na naging grounds noong impeachment complaints sa kanya. So I don't think it's fair for her to tie up ‘yung issue ng impeachment, possible filing of new impeachment complaint against her sa budget process. Kasi tapos na nga ‘yung budget process sa House. What remains is the bicam. So, ano ba ang ibig niyang sabihin na naging bargaining chip na naman ito?” she added.

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon is “uncertain” about the basis of Duterte’s comment, but said impeachment proceedings are not subject to bargaining.

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“The 2026 budget is still under deliberations in the Senate, so I am uncertain about the basis of this particular comment. And to reiterate, impeachment proceedings are based on facts, evidence and principle. It is not subject to to bargaining, it is not subject to negotiations,” he said in a statement.

Both de Lima and Tinio said not once was the alleged efforts to impeach the Vice President mentioned in the budget deliberations at the lower chamber.

“Hindi ever napag-usapan ‘yun during the budget process. Hindi naman ‘yun part ng any deliberation of any office or program of government,” Tinio said.

“During the budget process itself, wala kami mga pinag-uusapan about the possible re-filing of the impeachment complaint,” De Lima also said.

DECEPTIVE?

De Lima, who was not a House member last Congress said she has no knowledge of Duterte’s allegations against the House, but she is certain there was basis for the impeachment complaint against the Vice President.

Duterte claimed that a number of lawmakers supposedly revealed in February 2024 that signatures for her impeachment “were being courted in exchange for budget allocations”.

“May basehan ‘yung pagkaka-impeach kay VP Sara at the House level,” De Lima said.

“Malakas po dapat ‘yung kaso. Kaya nga, nakakadismaya nga na kung sana umusad sa Senado, nakita dapat ‘yung mga ebidensya. Hindi ‘yung… umpisa pa lang, ay mayroon nang mga ginawa sa Senado, ‘yung Senate leadership na kung anu-ano, ‘yung mga ginawang excuses, ‘yung mga interpretation of the word forthwith,” she added.

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Tinio finds Duterte’s statement on her willingness to explain the allegations against her “deceptive”.

The Vice President on Monday said that she has “always stood ready to answer any allegation grounded in fact and truth”. But she said she “cannot remain silent, while the impeachment process is being twisted into a budget-driven racket”.

“Nariyan na naman ‘yung panlilinlang, typical ng Duterte. Sabi niya, handa naman siyang palaging sagutin ang anumang tanong kaugnay sa paggastos niya ng pondo. Lagi niyang sinasabi ‘yan, pero pagka may aktwal na venue at pagkakataon na, iiwas siya o hindi sasagot,” Tinio said.

“Halimbawa, dito na lang sa P125 million na confidential funds na nawaldas in 11 days. Hindi pa rin niya sinasagot, ‘di pa rin niya ipinapaliwanag. Dahil hindi kapani-paniwala ‘yung official na paliwanag niya na ginastos ‘yun for legitimate confidential operations in the last 11 days of 2024,” he added.

When the one year ban expires on February 6, no group or individual can be prevented from filing an impeachment complaint against the Vice President, whether on the same grounds as previously filed, or on different grounds, according to De Lima.

But she admitted that if the Supreme Court will not overturn or amend its immediately executory but not yet final ruling on Duterte’s impeachment, the impeachment process will be more difficult.

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“That’s the challenge, kasi naging mas istrikto… It's going to be very tough. Sabi nga ng iba, parang halos… imposible na mag-prosper ang mga impeachment complaint na ‘yan… Mas maganda sana kung ma-reconsider o kaya ay i-modify ‘yung naging ruling na hindi… maging ganoon ka-strikto, stringent ‘yung requirements ng impeachment,” she expained.

“Ang problema rin kasi ni VP Sara is that akala niya kasi, just because meron ngayon itong malaking corruption scandal, ay lusot na siya. Na para bang, you know, she's also trying to divert ‘yung issue ng kanyang own accountability. We have to remind her na hindi pa siya lusot kasi nga na-impeach nga siya sa House pero hindi naman natuloy o hindi pa natutuloy sa Senado dahil in-archive yung kaso,” she noted.

Both De Lima and Tinio are open to endorsing a fresh impeachment complaint against Duterte.

“Basta naka-ready, willing, and able lang tayo na mag-endorse if ever,” Tinio said.

“Why not? Depending on the allegations again, depending on the evidence and how they are presented, how meritorious would be the allegations and the supporting evidence,” De Lima said.

Last week, Bayan Chairperson Teddy Casiño said progressive and civil society groups were preparing to file a fresh impeachment complaint against Duterte once the one-year ban expires in February. That’s in case the Supreme Court rules against the appeal to reverse its decision, nullifying the articles of impeachment filed against Duterte by the lower chamber before the Senate last February 5.

WAITING

Ridon urged the Supreme Court to decide on the matter with finality, “in order for constitutional bodies such as the House and the Senate, as well as the public, to determine their next course of action on public officers who may only be removed through impeachment”.

“Only after the Supreme Court resolves the MR can the House directly look into impeachable acts of the Vice President. If the MR is resolved in favor of the House, the impeachment will proceed to trial in the Senate. If resolved against the House, a new complaint may be filed against the Vice President in February, under the new Supreme Court impeachment guidelines,” he said.

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“The House of Representatives will perform its constitutional mandate on impeachment against any and all impeachable officers, as soon as verified impeachment complaints are filed for our resolution,” Ridon added.