The House Committee on Justice has streamlined the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte into four consolidated articles, with proponents emphasizing that proving a single charge would be sufficient for her removal from office.
Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima detailed that the condensed articles focus on the alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and corruption, and documented threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“Number one, misuse or abuse of confidential funds. Pangalawa, unexplained wealth. Several subheadings po yan, pinagdagdag po nga ako tungkol sa failure to divest her interest in business,” De Lima said.
“And then ang pangatlo, yung bribery and graft and corruption, sa (Department of Education). And then pang-apat yung threats ng plot to assassinate the President, the First Lady, and the (former) House Speaker,” she added.
According to De Lima, the decision to consolidate earlier proposals was a strategic move to ensure the case remains clear and manageable during the presentation of evidence.
“Kinondense na lang lahat para mas malinaw, para mas maikli rin, especially in terms of presentation of evidence para mas klaro para mas coherent. Yung mga similar grounds ay kinonsolidate na lang into one,” she explained.
On Monday, the justice panel unanimously approved the committee report with a 55-0 vote. The case now moves to the House plenary, where it requires the support of at least one-third of the chamber—or 106 out of 318 representatives—to be officially transmitted to the Senate for trial.
De Lima expressed high confidence in the strength of the filings, noting that the articles are well-supported by factual evidence and circumstances.
“Pag makarating na ito sa Senado at magkaroon na ng trial… that should be enough to really convict her and then to remove her from office and to permanently disqualify her to hold further public office,” De Lima said.
“Secure na secure kasi supported by evidence, facts and circumstances,” she said. “Ibig sabihin, malakas talaga yung kaso, malakas yung mga articles of impeachment.”