THE House of Representatives on Monday formally referred four verified impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Committee on Justice after their inclusion in the Order of Business.
Deputy Speaker Ferjenel Biron of Iloilo presided over the session when the referral was made, effectively triggering the one-year bar on the filing of a similar impeachment complaint against Duterte.
The first complaint, filed on February 2, was lodged by members of the Makabayan Coalition and endorsed by Party-list Representatives Antonio Tinio of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Sarah Jane Elago of Gabriela Women’s Party, and Renee Louise Co of Kabataan.
The Makabayan complainants include Francisca “France” Castro, Arlene Brosas, Liza Maza, Atty. Neri Colmenares, Renato Reyes Jr., Raymond Palatino, David Michael M. San Juan, David D. D’Angelo, Modesto Floranda, Ronaldo “Ka Jerome” Adonis, Eufemia Doringo, Jocelyn Andamo, Amirah Ali Lidasan, Jeffrey F. Ranoy, Francisco “Eco” Dangla III, Jandrie Layba, Erlinda Alfonso, Albert G. Pascual, Raymond Basilio, Cathleen Gaea B. de Guzman, Mhing Archie S. Gomez, Tiffany Faith F. Brillante, Francesca Mariae M. Duran, John Lesther Mercader, Sheila Mae L. Cupay, Raven Kristine B. Racelis, Allen Marc D. Ballesteros, Kenneth Alexander Castor, Justine Antonie D. Wagan, Santino Antonius Miguel V. Arroyo, Michael Troy C. Cabangon, John Paul Y. Azusano, Zenaida Soriano, Maria Belinda V. Sevilla, John Andre Malaca Alcala, Geraldine T. Balingit, Aliyah Mikaela C. Cruz, Jomarie Shade E. Bayona, Keith Neil Xavier C. Señido, Aries Lingad Soledad, Lucky E. Oraller, Antonio C. Fajardo, Elizabeth T. Camoral, Mario Q. Fernandez, and Ronnie C. Manalo.
On the same day, Party-list Representatives Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal and Perci Cendaña of Akbayan endorsed the second impeachment complaint filed by representatives of progressive organizations and civil society groups.
The petitioners were Francis Joseph Aquino Dee, Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Teresita Quintos Deles, Eugene Louie Gonzales, Ma. Yvonne Christina C. Jereza, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Fr. Robert Paguia Reyes, Sister Susan Santos Esmile, Karl Patrick Suyat, Leah Lopez Navarro, Matthew Christian Silverio, former Ifugao Rep. Teodoro B. Baguilat Jr., Yzekiel Venn L. Rivera, Anna Cubacub, Alicia Murphy, Rowena Amon, and Josua Fred Tolentino Mata.
Last February 9, De Lima endorsed the third complaint filed by a group of private citizens—composed of members of the clergy, civil society leaders, and legal practitioners—filed the complaint.
The complainants include Rev. Fr. Joel Saballa, Rev. Fr. Joselito S. Sarabia, Rev. Fr. Edilberto J. Baculi, Rev. Fr. Rogelio D. del Rosario, Pastor Leonard P. Arevalo, Pinky L. Tam, Maria Loreto A. Lopez, Atty. Jalilo O. dela Torre, Atty. Democrito C. Barcenas, Atty. Lourdes Barcenas, Sister Ma. Liza Ruedas, Sister Violeta B. Cecilio, and Sister Geraldine J. Denoga.
Last Wednesday, the fourth verified complaint, filed by Atty. Nathaniel G. Cabrera and endorsed by House Committee on Human Rights Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. of Manila and Deputy Speaker Francisco Paolo Ortega V was formally received by House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy Garafil.
The complaint centered on allegations that she failed to fully disclose certain assets in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) and may have accumulated unexplained wealth disproportionate to her lawful income.
With four impeachment complaints now pending, the House must determine whether the allegations — particularly those involving SALN disclosures and unexplained wealth — meet the constitutional threshold for impeachment under Article XI of the 1987 Constitution.
Under the Constitution, the Vice President may be removed from office for culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust.
