VP Sara Duterte Dismisses Impeachment Complaints as Political Harassment
Vice President Sara Duterte has firmly rejected the impeachment complaints endorsed by the opposition group Akbayan, which were filed on Saturday, February 7, 2026. In a strong statement, she characterized these petitions as "political harassment" rather than legitimate legal actions, emphasizing their lack of supporting evidence.
Details of the Impeachment Allegations
The complaints, submitted by 17 members from various civil society organizations, were endorsed in the House of Representatives by Akbayan Party-list Representative Perci Cendaña and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima. Duterte criticized the filings, describing them as "a single page of paper without attached evidence" to substantiate the accusations against her.
The primary allegations outlined in the complaints include:
- Threats against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and other officials, accused of breaching public trust and destabilization.
- Alleged misuse of approximately P612.5 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education during her tenure as DepEd secretary from 2022 to 2024.
- Corruption and graft within DepEd related to contracts and fund disbursements under her administration.
- Undeclared assets and anomalies in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
- Involvement in extrajudicial killings (EJKs) connected to the Duterte family's aggressive anti-drug campaign.
Constitutional Basis and Duterte's Response
The impeachment complaint is based on constitutional grounds, including betrayal of public trust, graft, corruption, bribery, and other serious crimes under the 1987 Constitution. However, Duterte asserted that this move is part of an ongoing effort by her critics to target her politically.
She further explained that the impeachment proceedings began after her decision to leave President Marcos Jr.'s Cabinet—a step she described as a response to what she perceives as the President's failure to address worsening poverty and governance issues. According to Duterte, the impeachment is being used as a form of retaliation rather than a lawful remedy.
In her view, this action undermines the integrity of the impeachment process and serves as a distraction from more pressing national concerns. Duterte's dismissal highlights the deepening political tensions within the Philippine government, as she continues to face scrutiny over her actions and affiliations.
