3rd complaint vs Sara seen as the ‘safest’

The third impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte on 8 February is the “safest” and is stronger compared to the complaints filed in 2025, according to two lawmakers.

House Justice Committee chair Rep. Gerville Luistro noted that in terms of complying with the one-year bar on new impeachment complaints, this third filing clearly avoids legal questions that clouded the first two complaints filed earlier on 2 February.

Luistro expects the time of filing of the first two complaints — whether they were filed within the proper period — to be a point of debate during committee deliberations. She pointed out that the Supreme Court’s July 2025 decision explicitly said a new complaint could only be filed starting 6 February this year.

While the High Court noted in a January 2026 resolution that the first impeachment complaint from 2 December 2024 should have been included in the House’s Order of Business by 14 January 2025, it wasn’t. A complaint is deemed initiated if included within 10 session days.

The parties behind that first new complaint argued that the one-year bar lapsed on 15 January 2026, but Luistro clarified that the Supreme Court did not explicitly set it as the filing date for a new complaint.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima said the third complaint, filed by clergy and legal professionals, also appears to be stronger than the 2025 version. She reviewed the petition and found it sufficient in both form and substance, with grounds for impeachment that could carry through the committee’s evidentiary stage.

“The grounds used aren’t that different from the complaint filed by 215 lawmakers on 5 February 2025, but this one may even be a better version,” De Lima said. She noted that the one-year bar’s lapse remained a point of confusion but hoped that the lawmakers would raise the issue during committee discussions.

Luistro emphasized that the third complaint is the safest because it clearly falls outside the one-year bar, whether counted from 15 January or 6 February.

The Vice President is accused in the three complaints of misusing confidential funds and other high crimes, citing the affidavit of Ramil Madriaga, Duterte’s alleged former aide.

House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil confirmed that the third impeachment complaint was formally transmitted to Speaker Bojie Dy on Monday night.

The complaint, filed by a group of private citizens — including members of the clergy, civil society leaders, and legal practitioners — was endorsed by De Lima, completing the requirements for transmittal.

Among the complainants are Fr. Joel Saballa, Fr. Joselito Sarabia, Fr. Edilberto Baculi, Fr. Rogelio del Rosario, Pastor Leonard Arevalo, Pinky Tam, Maria Loreto Lopez, Atty. Jalilo de la Torre, Atty. Democrito Barcenas, Atty. Lourdes Barcenas, Sister Ma. Liza Ruedas, Sister Violeta Cecilio and Sister Geraldine Denoga.

Garafil stressed that the Office of the Secretary General’s role is strictly ministerial, limited to receiving, verifying, and transmitting impeachment complaints and endorsements.