Deputy Speaker P. Ortega V of La Union on Monday said his endorsement of the fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte is grounded in constitutional duty, not political considerations, as he urged the House Committee on Justice to allow the complaint to proceed.
Speaking before the panel chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” R. Luistro, Ortega stressed that public accountability must rise above partisan divisions.
“Tayo’y naging isang bansang labis ang pagkakahati-hati, hanggang sa makalimutan natin na pagdating sa paglilingkod-bayan, dapat managot ang sinuman o anumang kulay ng pulitika ang kanyang kinabibilangan,” Ortega said.
“Ang pananagutan ay nangangahulugang paglalantad sa mali o paglabag na matagal nang umiiral at patuloy na sumisira sa ating mga institusyon,” he added.
Ortega recalled that nearly four years ago, the Vice President “stood before us, raised her hand, and pledged to faithfully and conscientiously fulfill her duties as the Vice President of our country, preserve and defend our Constitution, execute our laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate herself to the service of the nation.”
“Nakakalungkot isipin na makalipas ang halos apat na taon mula nang ipahayag niya ang mga pangakong iyon, ay mukhang hindi ito natutupad,” he said.
He noted that the Vice President “ay nahaharap sa mga alegasyon at paratang ng pagtataksil sa tiwalang ipinagkaloob sa kanya ng taumbayan,” including allegations of “umiral na kultura ng panunuhol at ibang katiwaliang matagal nang sumisira sa integridad ng ating mga institusyon, culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption at iba pang mabibigat na krimen.”
Focusing on procedure, Ortega cited the House Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings, which require the committee to first determine whether a complaint is sufficient in form.
“Batay sa ating Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings, upon due referral, this Committee shall determine whether the impeachment complaint is sufficient in form,” Ortega said, explaining that a complaint must contain a verification stating that the complainant has read it and that the allegations are true and correct based on personal knowledge or authentic records.
He directed the panel’s attention to the verification pages of the fourth complaint, also known as the Cabrera complaint.
“A perusal of the pages show that this complaint has been duly verified by the complainant himself, Atty. Nathaniel G. Cabrera, on 18 February 2026,” he said.
“Under oath, the complainant deposed that he read and understood the contents of the complaint, and that the allegations in the complaint are true and correct based on his personal knowledge or based on authentic documents. Of the same date, the verification is also duly notarized,” Ortega said.
He added that page 70 of the complaint bears Cabrera’s signature.
Ortega also cited a Resolution of Endorsement dated 18 February 2026, which he and Manila Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante Jr. “duly subscribed and sworn to before the Honorable Secretary General Atty. Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil.”
“Madam Chair, it is respectfully submitted that the fourth (4th) impeachment complaint or the Cabrera complaint is sufficient in form and that it be allowed to proceed to the next stage of the proceedings,” Ortega said.