Second impeachment complaint vs VP Duterte withdrawn

The complainants behind the second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte formally withdrew their filing Monday morning and declared support for the third impeachment complaint pending before the House Committee on Justice.

In a 2 March 2026 letter to Committee on Justice Chairperson Atty. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” R. Luistro of Batangas, the complainants said that after “careful deliberation and reflection,” they were requesting to withdraw their Verified Complaint dated 2 February 2026 and instead “lend our full support behind the Third Impeachment Complaint filed by Rev. Fr. Joel Saballa et al., dated 09 February 2026 and endorsed by Rep. Leila De Lima.”

They said the third complaint “contains the same allegations and substantial evidence as our Verified Complaint.”

“We believe this action will make the process towards accountability more expedient,” the complainants wrote.

The group added that they did not want to provide “any opportunity to VP Duterte’s camp to question the schedule by which we have filed the complaint.”

“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,” the letter read.

Despite the withdrawal, they emphasized: “Regardless of the vehicle, we remain onboard in this pursuit of justice, good governance, and accountability,” adding that they aim “to be continuously acknowledged as interested parties throughout the proceedings.”

The letter of withdrawal was signed by Francis Joseph Aquino Dee, Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Teresita Quintos Deles, Eugene Louie Gonzalez, Mr. Yvonne Chua Esguerra, Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD, Fr. Robert Reyes, Sr. Susan Santos Esmile, SFIC, Karl Patrick Sayat, Leah Lopez Navarro, Matthew Christian Silverio, Teodoro B. Baguilat Jr., Yzeile Venn L. Rivera, Anna Cubacub, Alicia Murphy, Rowena A. Amon, Josua Fred, and Tolentino Mata.

Following the complainants’ move, Rep. Percival V. Cendaña of Akbayan Party-list and Rep. Leila M. De Lima of ML Party-list also withdrew their endorsement of the second complaint.

In a separate 2 March letter to Luistro, the two lawmakers said: “We respectfully manifest the withdrawal of our endorsement before the Committee considering that the complainants previously issued a statement on their withdrawal of said complaint on 01 March 2026.”

They added: “We further manifest our support for the third Impeachment Complaint filed by Saballa et al., and endorsed by herein Rep. Leila De Lima, the contents and import of which are very similar to the second Complaint.”

The lawmakers noted that the complainants “have decided to formally withdraw their complaint in the interest of procedural expediency and to obviate any needless delay or detour that may detract from the process of seeking accountability.”

“We decided that withdrawal is the best course of action,” they said.

“Moving forward, we aim to actively participate in the proceedings. We thank and acknowledge the private complainants as interested parties in the proceedings before the Committee,” the letter added.

On 9 February, De Lima endorsed the third complaint filed by a group of private citizens composed of members of the clergy, civil society leaders and legal practitioners. The complainants include Saballa, Rev. Fr. Joselito S. Sarabia, Rev. Fr. Edilberto J. Baculi, Rev. Fr. Rogelio D. del Rosario, Pastor Leonard P. Arevalo, Pinky L. Tam, Maria Loreto A. Lopez, Atty. Jalilo O. dela Torre, Atty. Democrito C. Barcenas, Atty. Lourdes Barcenas, Sister Ma. Liza Ruedas, Sister Violeta B. Cecilio, and Sister Geraldine J. Denoga.

Under House impeachment rules, the Committee on Justice must first determine the sufficiency in form and substance of verified complaints before proceeding to a determination of probable cause.

The withdrawal of the second complaint narrows the focus of the panel’s initial consideration to the remaining complaints, including the third filing now backed by both its original proponents and former endorsers of the second complaint.

The move comes as the Committee begins deliberations on the verified impeachment complaints against the Vice President, signaling a unified push among complainants to streamline proceedings and strengthen the case for accountability.