House justice panel finds probable cause to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte

MANILA — The House Committee on Justice on Wednesday unanimously found probable cause to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte after consolidating two impeachment complaints filed against her, following four days of hearings that lawmakers said established sufficient grounds to proceed to trial.

Committee chairperson and Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro said all 53 members present voted in favor of the finding, with no objections recorded.

The panel based its decision on testimonies and documents presented during hearings, which included allegations involving the disbursement of confidential funds, questionable receipts, and financial transactions flagged by oversight agencies.

Among the evidence cited were claims by detainee Ramil Madriaga regarding the alleged release of P125 million in confidential funds within a 24-hour period, as well as assertions that cash deliveries were made in Laguna, Quezon City, and the Office of the Ombudsman. Madriaga also signed a bank secrecy waiver during the proceedings.

The Commission on Audit reported the disallowance of P73 million in confidential funds in 2022, which was later upheld, and confirmed issuing three notices of disallowance in 2023 covering P375 million in confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President.

Representatives from the National Bureau of Investigation testified on alleged irregularities in acknowledgment receipts tied to confidential fund disbursements.

The Philippine Statistics Authority also informed the committee that several names listed as recipients of confidential funds, including individuals identified as Mary Grace Piattos, Milky Secuya, and Kokoy Villamin, had no civil registry records.

Lawmakers further cited the Vice President’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 2019 to 2024, which reportedly showed no declared cash holdings or bank accounts.

A report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council flagged approximately P6.7 billion in bank transactions linked to Vice President Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, spanning 2006 to 2025. The report categorized portions of the activity as suspicious transactions and noted multiple derogatory records.

The AMLC also cited confidential reports connecting both Duterte and Carpio to suspected involvement in drug-related allegations, graft, and misuse of public funds. It further stated that at least 18 transactions corresponded with earlier allegations raised by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

In addition, the National Bureau of Investigation said a video showing the Vice President making statements interpreted as threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family may constitute inciting to sedition and grave threats.

Senior Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima said the evidence presented was more than sufficient to establish probable cause.

“This is not mere allegation. If we are talking about probable cause, the evidence presented is more than enough,” De Lima said.

She added that the totality of findings represented what she described as a serious red flag.

Luistro said the committee had afforded due process and multiple opportunities for the Vice President to respond, but noted that she did not attend the hearings to address the allegations.

“We have provided so much due process already,” Luistro said prior to the vote.

The impeachment complaints accuse Duterte of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and other offenses, including alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, alleged bribery, alleged accumulation of unexplained wealth, and statements interpreted as threats against the President.

The Vice President’s legal team said the committee’s finding was expected, arguing that the proceedings went beyond the scope of the verified complaints.

“This is not unexpected given the direction of the proceedings,” the defense said in a statement, adding that the process allegedly expanded beyond constitutional limits.

Amando Ligutan, counsel for one of the complainants, said the committee findings were a major step toward accountability.

He said the allegations and evidence showed strong grounds for impeachment and urged the swift transmission of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial.

Ligutan also criticized the alleged threats attributed to the Vice President, saying such conduct was incompatible with public office.

National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag, who testified during the hearings, said a sitting Vice President is not immune from criminal prosecution, citing a Supreme Court ruling in Binay v. Ombudsman.

He added that the NBI is still awaiting action from the Department of Justice regarding its findings.

The House committee also moved to consolidate the two impeachment complaints into a single set of Articles of Impeachment and will prepare a committee report for transmission to the Senate, the complainants, and the Vice President.

Further hearings are scheduled for May 4 at the People’s Center.