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Delon Porcalla - The Philippine Star
March 2, 2026 | 12:00am
Vice President Sara Duterte conducts a press conference in Mandaluyong on February 18, 2026.
STAR / Miguel de Guzman
MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on justice begins deliberations on the four impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte today to determine whether they are sufficient in form and substance.
Expected to defend the impeachment suits are Reps. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers), Renee Co (Kabataan) and Sarah Jane Elago (Gabriela), who endorsed the first complaint from former lawmakers France Castro and Neri Colmenares; Rep. Leila de Lima (ML), who endorsed the second suit (with Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña) from Tindig Pilipinas as well as the third one from religious groups; and Reps. Paolo Ortega V (La Union 1st district) and Benny Abante Jr. (Manila 6th district), who endorsed the fourth complaint from lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera.
However, Kiko Aquino-Dee, Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor said in a statement that they are withdrawing their impeachment complaint today and instead backing the third suit against Duterte.
“We lend our full support behind the third impeachment complaint containing the same grave allegations and substantial evidence as ours. Consolidating our support behind the third complaint will strengthen our position and help move the case forward to the Senate impeachment court,” Dee said.
“We believe that the impeachment process must proceed at the earliest possible time,” he added.
All four impeachment complaints have accused Duterte of culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust and other high crimes primarily on the still unaccounted P612.5-million confidential funds, which also covers her short term as education secretary.
Security readied for Madriaga
In case the justice panel invites inmate Ramil Madriaga, the self-confessed bagman of the Vice President to the hearing, Congress would have to make the necessary coordination to ensure his safety, according to Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.
“I think Congress will have to coordinate with the court and the BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) if only to secure the safety of Madriaga, that once he is invited to the House, he can actually in fact attend the hearings,” the House public accounts panel chair said.
Madriaga is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig for a separate case. In his sworn affidavit, he claimed he handled bags of cash that he delivered to a trusted security aide of Duterte during the May 2022 elections.
The alleged whistleblower insinuated that drug lords and Chinese-led Philippine offshore gaming operators had primarily bankrolled the 2022 campaign of Duterte for the vice presidency.
Madriaga’s sworn affidavit has been submitted as part of the impeachment complaints and is being cited as a key piece of evidence.
It reportedly detailed how certain funds were withdrawn and/or transferred, names of individuals allegedly involved, and references to documents meant to support claims that the transactions were carried out with the full knowledge and/or authority of the Vice President.
“We will look at all of these allegations, particularly the new allegations of Madriaga with a very critical eye. We have to do this because it is very important that we thoroughly examine those that have been mentioned in his affidavit. We have to verify their authenticity,” Ridon said.
