Impeachment complaints vs Sara Duterte sufficient in form; Constitution 'doesn't get tired'
The House Committee on Justice deemed the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte sufficient in form, proceeding with the process. Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro stressed that the Constitution and the pursuit of accountability are unwavering, despite public fatigue.
The House Committee on Justice, chaired by Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, determined on March 2, 2026, that two of the four impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte were sufficient in form during its initial consideration hearing. This procedural determination allows the complaints to advance in the impeachment process. The committee is reviewing four verified complaints: the first filed by Francisca 'France' Castro et al., endorsed by Representatives Antonio L. Tinio, Sara I. Elago, and Renee Louise M. Co; the second filed by Francis Joseph Aquino Dee et al., endorsed by Representative Leila M. de Lima; the third filed by Rev. Fr. Joel Saballa et al., also endorsed by Representative Leila M. de Lima; and the fourth filed by Atty. Nathaniel G. Cabrera, endorsed by Representatives Bienvenido M. Abante Jr. and Paolo P. Ortega V.
During the March 2 hearing, a significant development occurred when the second impeachment complaint was formally withdrawn after endorsers including Representative Leila de Lima and 17 complainants affirmed under oath their retraction, shifting their support to the third complaint. Committee Chair Gerville Luistro described this withdrawal as a 'pivotal moment' that allows the panel to focus on the remaining petitions. The complaints allege various offenses including betrayal of public trust, corruption, graft, bribery, misuse of confidential funds amounting to P612 million, plotting assassinations targeting President Marcos, First Lady, and Romualdez, extrajudicial killings, unexplained wealth, and failure to disclose assets.
The impeachment process began when the House of Representatives referred all four complaints to the House Committee on Justice on February 23, 2026, initiating formal proceedings and barring new complaints for one year. This marks the second consecutive year of impeachment complaints against Duterte, following December 2024 filings that contained 24 articles of impeachment. The current complaints include new evidence, particularly testimony from Ramil Madriaga, Duterte's former aide, who claims involvement in transporting large sums of money as directed by her, providing direct evidence regarding confidential funds.
Representative Gerville Luistro emphasized during the proceedings that the Constitution and the pursuit of accountability are unwavering, stating that 'the Constitution doesn't get tired' despite public fatigue with the impeachment process. The committee's finding of sufficiency in form represents a procedural step forward, but no final vote on sufficiency in substance has occurred yet. The process requires the committee to assess both form and substance before potentially advancing complaints to the House plenary and then to a Senate trial if the House votes to impeach.
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