Philippine Activists Push For VP Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Over Fund Misuse

Activists in the Philippines have submitted a new impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, accusing her of betraying public trust and misusing government funds. The complaint, filed by 74 left-wing individuals, including human rights and labor leaders, targets the alleged misappropriation of 612.5 million pesos ($10.3 million) in confidential funds.

The motion, filed on Wednesday, adds to an earlier impeachment complaint that focused on a death threat Duterte made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This threat has revealed an ongoing power struggle between Duterte and Marcos, stemming from their once-strong political alliance.

 

Alleged Misuse of Confidential Funds

The new complaint claims that Duterte’s office spent 125 million pesos ($2 million) over 11 days during the Christmas holidays on questionable expenditures, including renting “safe houses” and paying for unspecified confidential information. Activists also accuse Duterte of attempting to cover up the misuse by submitting falsified reports and obstructing a congressional investigation.

Renato Reyes, a member of the left-wing coalition Bayan, described the impeachment as a necessary step to combat impunity and hold public officials accountable. “Citizens and taxpayers need to hold public officials accountable,” he said.

 

Growing Tensions with Marcos

This marks the second impeachment complaint filed against the 46-year-old Duterte in recent days. On Monday, civil society and religious leaders filed a case citing 24 alleged crimes and irregularities, including corruption and misconduct related to Duterte’s role in her father’s controversial drug crackdown. Additionally, Duterte’s death threat against Marcos Jr. is under investigation.

Despite these accusations, Marcos has criticized the impeachment efforts, warning that they would only distract Congress and hinder efforts to address the needs of the people. Duterte, who rose to power in 2022 in alliance with Marcos, has seen that alliance deteriorate, leading to heightened political tensions between their families.

 

The Path Forward

The impeachment complaints will be reviewed by the House of Representatives, which is dominated by Marcos allies, including House Speaker Martin Romualdez. If the motion moves forward, an impeachment trial could take place in the Senate.