Progressive groups are set to file a second impeachment complaint against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Metro Manila on December 4, 2024. — AFP
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte faced a second impeachment complaint on Wednesday, amid investigations into an alleged death threat against President Ferdinand Marcos and the misuse of government funds. The daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte has been mired in political upheaval after her alliance with Marcos dramatically fell apart ahead of next year's mid-term elections. Duterte resigned from her cabinet position as education secretary in June following a breakdown in relations between the two influential families.
The complaint, filed by activists, teachers, former congressional members, and others, accused Duterte of betraying public trust for allegedly misusing millions of dollars in public funds during her tenure as education minister, according to the left-wing coalition Makabayan. "The Vice President's blatant misuse of over half a billion pesos ($8.5 million) in confidential funds, particularly the questionable liquidation of 125 million pesos in just 11 days at the end of 2022, represents a grave betrayal of public trust," stated former congressman Teddy Casino, one of the complainants.
Another coalition of activists filed an impeachment complaint against Duterte on Monday, accusing her of corruption and misconduct. Duterte has denied any misuse of public funds. It remains uncertain whether either of the two impeachment cases filed this week will gain the support of one-third of lawmakers needed to proceed to a Senate trial. Despite Marcos' allies holding a majority in the House of Representatives, he has publicly dismissed such efforts as a waste of time.
Under the country's constitution, impeachment proceedings cannot be initiated against the same individual more than once within a year, meaning the House of Representatives will have to decide whether to choose one complaint or consolidate them. The latest complaint compounds Duterte's legal challenges as she faces probes into her alleged death threat against Marcos and another inquiry into her use of government funds. Duterte was subpoenaed after claiming in a press conference to have instructed someone to kill the president if an alleged threat against her own life was carried out. She later clarified that her comments were misinterpreted.
Duterte is also under investigation in the House, led by Marcos' cousin Martin Romualdez, for her alleged misuse of millions of dollars in government funds.
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