More than 70 complainants from various youth organizations, multi-sectoral groups, and concerned citizens file an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte before the he House Secretary General at the House of Representatives on December 4, 2024. Three congressmen from the Makabayan bloc endorsed the complaint, citing betrayal of public trust as the ground for impeachment. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — Progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Wednesday led the filing of a second impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte to hold her accountable over alleged misuse of her offices' confidential funds. 

The impeachment case is backed by over 70 complainants composed of youth leaders, teachers, government employees, health workers, and multi-sectoral groups who condemn Duterte's supposed "betrayal of public trust" — which they cited as lone ground for impeachment, along with three issues about confidential fund use.

READ: VP Sara Duterte faces impeachment complaint

Former congressmen Atty. Neri Colmenares, Bayan Muna Chairperson and one of the complainants, stressed that it is the "fastest way to resolve a case". 

"Pwede naman kaming magdagdag ng marami pa, pero the betrayal of public trust, it encompasses everything, because maytoong tiwala ang publiko sa iyo. Tinaksilan mo 'yun, and that is for us, one of the highest, if not the highest treachery ng isang public official," he said. 

Joining Colmenares to file the case were Saturnino Ocampo, Liza Maza, Teodoro Casiño, Ferdinand Gaite, Eufemia Cullamat, Antonio Tinio, Sarah Elago, and Emerenciana De Jesus, among others. They alleged that Duterte betrayed public trust when she supposedly committed "gross abuse of discretionary powers" over the P612.5 million confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education from December 2022 until the third quarter of 2023. 

Of this amount, P125 million was spent by the OVP in 11 days in 2022. P73 million from that figure was disallowed by the Commission on Audit due to non-submission of documents evidencing the success of information gathering or surveillance activities, failure to specify that purchased items were intended for confidential operations, and use of confidential funds for purposes not allowed under the guidelines. 

"Although confidential funds are subject to the Respondent's discretion, she had no discretion to use them in violation of the law and rules. She therefore grossly abused her power over the confidential funds," the complaint stated, which was endorsed by three congressmen from the Makabayan Bloc. 

READ: Palace distances from impeachment raps vs VP Sara Duterte

READ: COA flags issues in OVP programs, welfare goods distribution

'MOCKERY ON AUDITING PROCESS' 

Complainants also claimed that Duterte "made a mockery" of the audit process and "grossly disregarded transparency and accountability" when she supposedly ordered her subordinates to prepare and submit to COA accomplishment reports supported by alleged "fabricated" liquidation reports and "falsified" documents to justify her offices' confidential expenses.

They cited the submission of acknowledgment receipts, which they claimed contain "irregularities that suggest systemic fabrication". Part of these receipts is one signed by "Mary Grace Piattos", who has no record of birth, marriage or death according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Some receipts are also unreadable, unsigned, lacked necessary details, had wrong dates, and had similar handwriting patterns, according to the complaint.

"The submission of obviously false documentation to COA demonstrates not just an attempt to deceive, but a brazen contempt for the constitutional audit process itself," the complaint said.

"By affixing her signature to the acknowledgment reports submitted to COA, she directly assumed responsibility for their contents, as required by the Joint Circular. This makes her fully accountable for the fabricated data and any irregularities therein," it added.

"…confidential funds, by their very nature, are subject to limited audit procedures relying heavily on the integrity of the officials entrusted with their use. By abusing this trust to fabricate documentation and mislead auditors, Respondent has demonstrated her unfitness to handle such funds or to continue serving in her high office," the complaint noted. 

'REFUSAL TO COOPERATE WITH CONGRESS' 

Another act, which complainants said constitutes betrayal of public trust, was Duterte's supposed dereliction of official duty, with her willful refusal to recognize congressional oversight during budget deliberations, and its authority to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation.

They said that Duterte "blocked" several issues raised by the House Committee on Appropriations during the August 27 budget hearing with her "standard non-answers", including her then statement "I would like to forgo the opportunity to defend the budget in a question-and-answer format. I will leave it up to the House to decide on the budget submitted". 

They also mentioned that the Vice President skipped the second House committee hearing and the House plenary deliberations on her office's proposed 2025 budget. The complainants argued that Duterte believes that explaining the matters of past, current, and future spending to the public is a "mere convenience", which is supposedly an "abandonment of duty".

The complaint further cited Duterte's alleged refusal to cooperate with the House committee investigation into her confidential expenses, noting that her Chief of Staff wrote a letter to COA seeking to keep confidential its audit report on the OVP and DepEd's confidential funds, which were subject of a House panel subpoena.

"This attempt to block congressional access to audit documents reveals Respondent's calculated strategy to evade accountability," the complaint said.

"Nang ang paglulustay at pagtatakip niya ay nabunyag, hindi niya kinilala ang kapangyarihan ng Kongreso na ito ay imbestigahan. In fact, gumawa siya ng paraan para pigilan ang Kongreso sa trabaho nitong oversight, tingnan ang mga maling gawa ng kanyang mga opisina. Siya ay nag-asal pusit at hindi ‘yan katanggap-tanggap," Casiño said.

"Ang mga ginawang ito ni Vice President Sara Duterte ay pagtataksil sa tiwalang ibinigay sa kanya ng taumbayan. This is a betrayal of public trust. At dahil dito, karapat dapat lamang na siya ay matanggal sa pwesto at huwag nang payagan na humawak ng anumang pwesto sa gobyerno," he stressed.

"Kami ay naniniwala, tumitindig na it is time to impeach the wicked witch of the south," Kabataan Party List National Spokesperson Atty. Renee Co said. 

CALL TO LAWMAKERS 

As the Marcos administration distances itself from the impeachment raps saying removing Duterte from position is only "a waste of time", Makabayan congressmen and complainants urged lawmakers to vote on the impeachment case based on its merit and their conscience. 

They emphasized that the impeachment process is a challenge for Congress to show its independence. 

"Suportahan ang impeachment complaint na ito, dahil kung hindi man mahalaga sa Presidente, mahalaga sa mamamayan na panagutin si Bise Presidente Duterte sa kanyang mga kasalanan," Tinio said.

"Separation of powers tayo. Dapat tumindig ang Kongreso sang-ayon sa tama na posisyon dito sa usaping ito," Gabriela Party List Rep. Arlene Brosas noted. 

Duterte has yet to comment on the impeachment complaint, though she already mentioned that lawmakers "can always try to impeach her" yet claimed such an attempt would only "distract the public from poor governance."

TO BE TRANSMITTED

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said he will transmit all the complaints filed to the Office of the Speaker.

He reiterated that the House of Representatives will process the complaints in accordance with the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings.

"The House is committed to performing its Constitutional duty with fairness, impartiality and respect for the rule of law," Velasco said.

"We assure the public that this process will be conducted with integrity, guided by the principles of due process and adherence to the Constitution. The House remains steadfast in protecting public trust and ensuring that the democratic process is upheld," he added.

RELATED VIDEO: