House Launches Impeachment Hearings Against VP Duterte

MANILA, Philippines The House Committee on Justice launched formal impeachment hearings against Vice President Sara Duterte on March 25, proceeding without her presence as her legal team cited constitutional objections to the process.

The committee, chaired by Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, convened at the House of Representatives' People's Center to examine two remaining complaints against Duterte. These complaints, the third and fourth filed earlier in the year, allege misuse of 612.5 million pesos in confidential and intelligence funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, where Duterte briefly served as secretary. Additional accusations include bribery of education officials, graft and corruption, violations of asset disclosure requirements, unexplained wealth, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The panel had previously declared the complaints sufficient in form, substance, and grounds, prompting the hearings to assess probable cause.

Duterte's absence was confirmed the previous evening by her spokesperson, Michael Poa, who stated that the vice...