After much speculation, an impeachment complaint was filed against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, citing allegations of abuse of power and corruption.

The complaint, endorsed by Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña, was lodged by civil society organizations, religious leaders, sectoral representatives, and families of victims of former President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war. House Secretary General Reginald Velasco formally received the complaint at 4:30 PM.

The 16 complainants alleged grounds for impeachment, including graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and other high crimes, except treason.

Cendaña expressed optimism about gaining support from his colleagues despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s earlier plea to halt impeachment efforts against Duterte.

“We believe that this is the responsibility of our institution. They have to give this complaint a fair chance and a fair day in court. This impeachment complaint is crucial to start the real step process towards holding the Vice President accountable,” he told reporters.

He added, “We believe that the merits of our impeachment complaint are strong, and we also believe in our colleagues in Congress that when they see that our complaint is strong, this case is strong, they will support it.”

House response

Last week, House leaders reiterated that while impeachment proceedings against Duterte are not part of the chamber's agenda, Congress is “duty-bound” to act on impeachment complaints filed by citizens.

Marcos previously described impeachment moves against Duterte as a “waste of time,” asserting, “None of this will help improve a single Filipino life.”

The Makabayan bloc criticized Marcos for allegedly interfering with Congress, describing it as a breach of the separation of powers. They accused the President of attempting to protect Duterte despite her controversial remarks and alleged improprieties.

Further fueling the standoff are Duterte's threats against Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, which critics described as “unbecoming” and a “betrayal of public trust.”

Confidential funds controversy

The impeachment complaint follows a House investigation into the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte's term as Education Secretary.

Duterte denied the allegations, calling the House probe a “coordinated political attack” designed to discredit her. She also accused Speaker Romualdez of instigating the inquiry due to his alleged presidential ambitions.

The controversy began after the House reallocated Duterte’s P650 million in secret funds to security agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard.

Constitutional process

Velasco emphasized the constitutional obligation to handle impeachment complaints with transparency and impartiality.

“It is crucial to underscore that addressing an impeachment complaint is not a discretionary act for the House of Representatives but a constitutional obligation. The Constitution prescribes clear steps to ensure fairness and adherence to the rule of law,” he said.

The House Secretary General is mandated to refer the complaint to the Speaker, who must include it in the Order of Business within 10 session days. It will then be referred to the House Committee on Justice, which will evaluate its sufficiency in form and substance within three session days.

The impeachment process adds to tensions stemming from rumors of Duterte's alleged misuse of P125 million in confidential funds transferred from the Office of the President without congressional authorization.

Duterte has claimed knowledge of plots to impeach her and Romualdez’s plans to run for president, further complicating the political landscape.