Key lawmakers view the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte as the natural outcome of extensive House inquiries into alleged misuse of confidential funds and her own controversial actions.
Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor, Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong, and 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez emphasized that findings from committee hearings—particularly those led by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability—have culminated in the decision to impeach Duterte.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Gutierrez. “As an active member of these committees, I see this as both the culmination and vindication of our findings.”
Adiong echoed this sentiment, stating that impeachment was the logical conclusion of previous hearings, while Defensor underscored the severity of Duterte’s own actions.
The complaint includes allegations that Duterte publicly threatened President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez. In a widely reported November press conference, Duterte claimed she had contracted an assassin to target them in the event of her assassination.
Defensor called this a grave offense, emphasizing that no one compelled Duterte to make such a statement. “That is a direct threat to the life of the Chief Executive, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, and the Speaker of the House,” he said.
He further stressed that such actions constitute “betrayal of public trust and a high crime,” as defined by the framers of the Constitution. “This is a serious and grave offense against the Constitution,” he added.
The Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has also been investigating Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds during her tenure as Secretary of Education, further shaping the basis of the impeachment complaint.
As the process moves forward, lawmakers insist that this action is not politically motivated but a necessary step in upholding accountability and constitutional integrity.