February 24, 2026
MANILA – The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte have been formally initiated as the House of Representatives’ committee on rules on Monday sent the four raps to the committee on justice.
During the plenary session on Monday, the four impeachment complaints were officially included in the Order of Business.
Thereafter, Deputy Speaker Ferjenel Biron, who presided over the session, referred the four complaints to the committee on justice.
The referral triggered the one-year bar period, which means that the next impeachment proceedings against Duterte can only be initiated a year after.
With the impeachment complaints sent to the justice panel, members of the committee will next determine if the complaints are sufficient in form and in substance.
In a statement sent to reporters, committee on justice chairperson and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said that the panel will “immediately take action” on the House’s referral of the impeachment complaints.
According to Luistro, the complaints against Duterte would get the same treatment as the complaints filed versus President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“The Justice Committee will immediately take action on the referral of the 4 impeachment complaints. Same procedures and parameters used in the impeachment complaints against the President will be adopted in the impeachment (complaints) against the Vice President,” she said.
Luistro last Friday already explained that the determination of sufficiency in substance would be tackled for each ground mentioned in the complaints.
READ: Sara Duterte’s presidency bid won’t make impeachment harder – Luistro
Under the House Rules of the 19th Congress, adopted by the 20th Congress, particularly Rule II of the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings, a hearing to determine probable cause will proceed should the committee on justice deem the complaints sufficient in form and substance.
The matter would then be resolved within 60 session days from the referral of the complaint to the committee.
If the raps fail this test, the committee will recommend that the complaints be dismissed.
“The Committee on Justice after hearing, and by a majority vote of all its Members, shall submit its report to the House containing its findings and recommendations within sixty (60) session days from the referral to it of the verified complaint and/or resolution,” the Rules said.
“Together with the report shall be a formal resolution of the Committee regarding the disposition of the complaint which shall be calendared for consideration by the House within ten (10) session days from receipt thereof,” it added.
Any decision from the committee would be up for plenary consideration, with a one-third nominal vote needed to approve the recommendation — regardless if it is to impeach the official or dismiss the complaints.
If the recommendation to impeach is approved, the resolution will be forwarded to the Senate.
Earlier, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said that the impeachment complaints will be sent to the committee on justice when the chamber resumes its session.
De Lima, in an ambush interview after members of the House committee on rules met for the agenda of the session, said that the panel approved the inclusion of the four raps in the Order of Business.
De Lima, being a Deputy Minority Leader, is a part of the committee on rules.
There are several similarities between the four complaints against Duterte, as they were based primarily on her threats against ranking officials including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the alleged misuse of confidential funds (CF), non-declaration of her assets, abuse of power, bribery of officials, and others.
READ: Another impeachment rap filed vs Sara Duterte
The third complaint was filed on February 9, while the fourth rap was submitted on February 18 — just hours after Duterte announced her intention to run for president in 2028.
Duterte was first impeached by the House of the 19th Congress, after 215 House lawmakers filed and signed a fourth complaint against her last February 5, 2025.
The complaint was hinged on allegations of misuse of CF lodged in her offices, threats against ranking officials, and other possible violations of the 1987 Constitution.
The Articles of Impeachment were immediately transmitted to the Senate on the same day, as the 1987 Constitution states that a trial must begin forthwith if at least one-third of all House members endorse the complaint.
But last July 25, 2025, the Supreme Court (SC) announced that the Articles of Impeachment were deemed unconstitutional, for violating the 1987 Constitution’s one-year bar rule.