A THIRD impeachment complaint has been filed against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte in the House of Representatives. The group of clergy, civil society leaders, and legal practitioners who filed the complaint cite allegations related to the use of confidential funds and the account of Duterte’s former aide, Ramil Madriaga.
The complaint was submitted to the office of House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy Garafil on Wednesday. House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list endorsed 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.
The group asserts that the impeachment is based on Section 2, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution. This section states that the Vice-President can be removed from office for “culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes or betrayal of public trust.”
The complaint lists several grounds for impeachment, including:
- Culpable Violation of the Constitution
- Betrayal of Public Trust
- Plunder and/or Malversation
- Bribery
- Graft & Corruption
- Other High Crimes
The complainants invoke Section 3, Article XI of the Constitution, which grants the House of Representatives the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.
Key Allegations
The complaint alleges that Duterte violated the Constitution and betrayed public trust by “amassing and converting” at least P500 million from confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice-President in 2022 and 2023, as well as P112.5 million from confidential funds allocated to the Department of Education in 2023.
Further allegations include:
- Corrupting and bribing officials of the Department of Education.
- Contracting to murder or assassinate the President, the first lady, and the former speaker of the House.
- Amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose all properties and interests in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
- Committing acts of political destabilization and the high crimes of sedition and insurrection.
Conspiracy Claims
The complaint alleges that Duterte conspired with Acosta, Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, and Madriaga in handling confidential funds. It claims Madriaga delivered funds to individuals connected to the Vice-President.
The complaint references testimony from a House committee hearing, where it was stated that the head of the agency, VP Sara, would instruct the preparation of disbursement vouchers upon the release of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO).
The filing emphasizes that “Without VP Sara’s instructions and approval, neither Acosta, Col. Lachica, nor Madriaga could have disposed of the P500,000,000.00,” asserting that “VP Sara’s participation in the disposition of the confidential funds was indispensable.”
The complainants maintain that the case is properly lodged in the House, based on the Constitution’s impeachment provisions and the grounds detailed in their verified complaint.
