MANILA – The House of Representatives on Monday impeached Vice President Sara Duterte over allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes.
During the plenary session, lawmakers voted 255-26, with nine abstentions, to approve the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte. Under the 1987 Constitution, only one-third of House members, or at least 106 votes, were required to impeach an impeachable official.
The impeachment complaint stemmed from findings of the House justice panel, which accused Duterte of multiple offenses tied to the alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, non-disclosure of assets, continued business interests while in office, alleged bribery of Department of Education officials, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
According to the Articles of Impeachment, Duterte allegedly misused and irregularly liquidated P500 million in confidential funds released to the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million allocated to the Department of Education during her tenure as Education secretary.
The complaint also alleged that Duterte amassed unexplained wealth disproportionate to her lawful income, failed to fully disclose assets and liabilities in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth from 2022 to 2024, and continued business interests while serving as vice president from 2022 to 2025.
Lawmakers further accused Duterte of giving monetary gifts to Department of Education officials to circumvent procurement and related laws, as well as allegedly inciting sedition and making grave threats involving the alleged assassination of the President, the First Lady, and Romualdez.
House justice committee chairperson and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, in her sponsorship speech, questioned the alleged P6.7 billion in bank transactions involving Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, which she said were not declared in their joint SALN filings.
“May numero ba tayo? Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues. Opo. Meron po tayong numero. Ngunit ang numerong tinutukoy ko ay hindi lamang bilang ng boto. Nasa records po ang numero. P6.7 billion. Iyan ang numerong kailangang maipaliwanag sa sambayanang Pilipino,” Luistro said.
She added that the Senate impeachment court would provide Duterte the opportunity to answer the allegations and present evidence before the public.
Luistro also stressed that the impeachment complaint was based on documented evidence and not political attacks or social media pressure.
“Hawak po natin ngayon ang bunga ng mahabang proseso. Hindi ito nabuo sa isang gabi. Hindi ito produkto ng tsismis, galit, o sigaw sa social media. Bawat pahina ay may bigat. Bawat dokumento ay may implikasyon,” she said.
Hours before the anticipated transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, senators voted to replace Tito Sotto as Senate President.
With 13 votes, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elected Senate President, while nine senators voted to retain Sotto. Two senators abstained.
Those who voted for Cayetano were Senators Pia Cayetano, Ronald dela Rosa, Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Joel Villanueva, Mark Villar, Camille Villar, and Sotto himself.
Voting to retain Sotto were Senators Ping Lacson, Kiko Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Raffy Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, Lito Lapid, and Cayetano.
Senators Migz Zubiri and JV Ejercito abstained.
Cayetano later took his oath of office alongside his wife, Lani Cayetano, and Senator Pia Cayetano.
In his speech after assuming the Senate presidency, Cayetano denied that the leadership change was intended to influence the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.
“The impeachment will be much, much more than dismissing a complaint because of political affiliation. And it’s also much, much more than convicting someone without evidence. Parehong hindi pwede ‘yun. Kailangan guided tayo by the truth. Guided by evidence,” he said.
Loren Legarda was elected Senate President Pro Tempore, while Joel Villanueva was named acting Majority Leader.
Malacañang, through Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, acknowledged the Senate leadership transition.
“The Senate has decided its own leadership,” Castro said.
Before the Senate session opened, Cayetano had denied rumors that a leadership change was being pushed to stop the impeachment proceedings. However, during his manifestation on the Senate floor, he later confirmed that at least 13 senators supported a leadership change.
Villanueva subsequently moved to declare all Senate leadership positions vacant. The motion passed with a 13-10-1 vote.
The session also marked the first public appearance of Senator Ronald dela Rosa since November 2025 amid reports linking him to a supposed arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over the Duterte administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
Sotto later said he had expected the leadership change and acknowledged the possibility that it was connected to the impending impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte.
“Basta sa amin, we will continue with the work. We will insist that the Articles of Impeachment, once submitted to us, be taken up,” Sotto said.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
