VP Sara Duterte skipping first impeachment hearing
Vice President Sara Duterte will not attend the first impeachment hearing against her in the House of Representatives, citing constitutional objections.
Vice President Sara Duterte faced impeachment proceedings in the Philippines House of Representatives, with the first significant developments occurring in late 2024 and early 2025. The impeachment complaints were formally filed in December 2024, accusing Duterte of multiple violations including graft, corruption, betrayal of public trust, misuse of confidential funds amounting to at least PHP 500 million, death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials, and amassing unexplained wealth. The complaints alleged she misused PHP 612.5 million in confidential funds from her office in 2022-2023, covered up irregularities, and refused congressional oversight.
Duterte's legal team raised constitutional objections early in the process, arguing that the impeachment violated the Philippines Constitution's one-year bar rule. On June 23, 2025, she submitted an "answer ad cautelam" to the House of Representatives, effectively skipping participation in the initial impeachment proceedings by pleading for dismissal on constitutional grounds rather than engaging directly in the first hearing. This response was confirmed by House spokesperson Princess Abante, and a similar filing was sent to the Senate in reply to their summons.
The House prosecution panel countered on June 27, 2025, urging the court to deny dismissal and proceed to a full trial, rebutting the defense's claims as containing falsehoods. However, the impeachment process faced a major setback when the Supreme Court ruled in August 2025 that the articles of impeachment were unconstitutional. This ruling led the Senate to archive the case on August 6, 2025, effectively halting the trial proceedings.
Despite the Supreme Court ruling, impeachment proceedings resumed in March 2026, with the House justice committee continuing hearings on the impeachment complaints. On March 18, 2026, the committee held its fourth day of deliberations, focusing on the sufficiency of grounds in the complaints. Duterte's impeachment spokesperson stated on March 20, 2026, that she had nothing to gain from attending the hearings, warning that skipping could strengthen the case against her. The committee confirmed the complaints met formal and substantive requirements, advancing to evidence discussions and potential referral to the House plenary for a vote, which could lead to a Senate trial.
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