Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said criminal and impeachment cases against Vice President Sara Duterte now stand a stronger chance of moving forward due to “changes in characters and circumstances” under the current administration. Fresh impeachment complaints are expected to be filed in February by civil society groups and church leaders.
In a television interview last Friday, Trillanes explained that pursuing such cases was “unthinkable” during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, but the appointment of a new Ombudsman by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has altered the landscape.
“As I mentioned before, nung panahon ni Duterte, it’s really unthinkable na merong judicial body na magpu-pursue ng any case against him. Ngayon, under the Marcos administration, merong opportunity na mapanagot ang mga nagkasala nung panahon ni Duterte,” Trillanes said.
He pointed to the leadership change at the Office of the Ombudsman, noting that the former chief was appointed by Rodrigo Duterte, while the incumbent, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, was named by Marcos.
“This would provide us a window of opportunity na ma-pursue ang accountability and justice para dito sa mga ito,” he added.
Trillanes previously filed plunder, graft, and malversation complaints against Duterte, citing alleged misuse of confidential funds and anomalies during her tenure as Davao City mayor, Education Secretary, and Vice President.
He clarified the distinction between impeachment and criminal proceedings: “Yung impeachment complaint kasi ay basically administrative in nature. Meaning ang penalty lang nito ay removal from office. So ito naman sa Ombudsman, criminal cases po ito, ang penalty nito ay pagkakulong.”
According to Trillanes, the new impeachment complaints will largely mirror those earlier transmitted to the Senate, with additional affidavits.
“Different civil society groups and church leaders will file it. They are hoping that this time they will be given the chance,” he said, adding that a recent Supreme Court ruling ensures that once a complaint is deemed sufficient in form and substance, an investigation can begin at the House of Representatives.
“I don’t think we will have a problem with that, because as far as I know, the impeachment complaint that will be passed will be almost the same as the one that was transmitted to the Senate,” he said. “If it’s good enough for the House leaders, House members, last year, it should be good enough for the House members this year.”
While impeachment can only cover acts committed during Duterte’s term as Vice President, Trillanes said his plunder complaint could establish a broader pattern of misconduct.
“What will be included when she was mayor, like the ₱2.7 billion confidential funds, it will only establish a pattern of behavior that is not a one-off or like she only did it occasionally when she was Vice President, but their modus in Davao that’s why they can accumulate that kind of wealth,” he said.
The developments mark a significant shift in the political climate, with accountability cases against Duterte gaining traction under the Marcos administration.