Evidence vs VP Sara Duterte ‘essentially complete,’ House official says
A House official claims sufficient evidence exists to proceed with impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, dismissing "fishing expedition" accusations despite calls for more documents.
The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte have reached a critical stage, with House officials stating that evidence against her is 'essentially complete' and sufficient to proceed with formal impeachment. Bicol Saro Representative Terry Ridon, a key House official involved in the process, clarified that the committee has already gathered substantial evidence, including Commission on Audit reports regarding Duterte's use of confidential funds, a video recording allegedly showing her threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, and copies of her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). The evidence gap primarily concerns financial discrepancies, as Duterte's SALN shows her net worth increased dramatically from P7 million in 2007 to P88 million by 2024, which the committee intends to scrutinize further through subpoenaed income tax returns and financial records.
Ridon dismissed accusations of a 'fishing expedition,' explaining that requests for additional documents through subpoenas are part of the normal investigative process. He noted that certain crucial evidence, including bank records and Anti-Money Laundering Council reports, can only be accessed once impeachment proceedings are formally underway due to Philippine banking secrecy laws. The House committee has determined that the impeachment complaints filed in December 2024 are 'sufficient in substance' to proceed, despite ongoing requests for supplementary documentation.
In response to the developments, Vice President Duterte has criticized the subpoena requests as evidence of insufficient evidence against her. She argued that the committee's earlier determination that complaints were 'sufficient in substance' should have concluded the evidentiary phase, suggesting that continued requests for documents indicate weakness in the case against her. Duterte characterized the process as a 'fishing expedition,' referencing similar accusations she made during the 2024 budget hearings.
The formal impeachment complaints, filed in December 2024, accuse Duterte of multiple offenses including betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, and alleged threats against President Marcos and his family. The proceedings represent a significant political development in the Philippines, potentially leading to the impeachment of the sitting vice president. The House committee's next steps will involve determining whether to formally transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial, which would require a one-third vote of House members to proceed.
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