MILITANT coalition Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) is gearing up to file a new impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte as soon as the one-year prohibition on such filings expires on February 5, 2026.
BAYAN chairperson Teddy Casiño announced the group’s intention to proceed with a new complaint, citing the unresolved issues from the previous attempt. “We are preparing for the end of the one-year ban in February. Most likely, we will file an impeachment again because what happened was incomplete; it didn’t proceed to trial,” Casiño said.
Casiño indicated that BAYAN’s complaint would again center on the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) under Duterte, which they believe constitutes a loss of public trust. He also noted that other groups may file separate complaints, potentially expanding the grounds for impeachment.
BAYAN is currently reviewing the Supreme Court ruling that voided the previous impeachment proceedings and set new conditions for future filings. “We are studying the implications of this Supreme Court ruling… The Supreme Court added many conditions. It is now somewhat more difficult to file an impeachment. So, that is what we are studying. Of course, the intention is there,” Casiño explained.
In December 2024, an initial impeachment complaint was filed against Duterte by civil society groups, religious leaders, and others, accusing her of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes. Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña endorsed the complaint.
Despite a fourth complaint receiving the endorsement of over 200 lawmakers and being sent to the Senate for trial in February 2025, the Senate ultimately voted to archive the impeachment articles in August 2025, following the Supreme Court’s ruling. Akbayan Party-list has since expressed openness to supporting or joining a new complaint next year.
metrosundaily
