Fresh Impeachment Complaint Targets Vice President Sara Duterte Over Fund Misuse Allegations
Vice President Sara Duterte is confronting a new impeachment complaint formally submitted to the House of Representatives, marking the latest legal challenge in a series of attempts to hold her accountable for alleged financial irregularities. The complaint, filed on Monday, February 9, 2026, by a group led by Integrated Bar of the Philippines lawyer Armando Ligutan, accuses Duterte of multiple serious offenses that have sparked widespread political debate.
Allegations of Betrayal and Financial Mismanagement
The impeachment document outlines grave charges against the Vice President, including betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and bribery. Central to the complaint is the alleged mishandling of at least P612 million in confidential funds, with specific breakdowns highlighting P500 million allocated to the Office of the Vice President from 2022 to 2023 and an additional P112.5 million during her tenure as secretary of the Department of Education. These accusations suggest a pattern of financial impropriety that the complainants argue undermines public confidence in government institutions.
Political Endorsement and Procedural Context
The complaint gained significant political traction after being endorsed by Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Representative Leila de Lima, adding weight to the legal proceedings. This renewed filing follows earlier impeachment attempts that were thwarted by constitutional barriers, most notably a Supreme Court ruling in July 2025 that struck down a previous complaint as unconstitutional. The Court invoked the one-year rule, which restricts impeachment filings against the same official to once annually, a decision that was reaffirmed in January after a motion for reconsideration was denied. Importantly, the Court's ruling did not address the substance of the allegations but focused solely on procedural grounds, leaving the door open for new complaints.
Multiple Complaints and Defense Response
In a related development, two other impeachment complaints were formally transmitted to the House Speaker's office by the House Secretary General during the first week of February, similarly centering on alleged misuse of confidential funds and breaches of public trust. In response, Attorney Michael Poa, spokesperson for Duterte's legal counsel, stated that the defense team had anticipated these additional cases. Over the weekend, Duterte herself dismissed the earlier complaints endorsed by the opposition group Akbayan, asserting they lack supporting evidence and characterizing them as political harassment rather than legitimate accountability measures. This stance highlights the contentious nature of the impeachment process, blending legal scrutiny with political maneuvering in the Philippine landscape.
