The House Committee on Justice is set to formally adopt on Monday its report finding probable cause to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, along with the corresponding resolution and Articles of Impeachment, moving the case to the House plenary.
Committee chair Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said the panel has completed its constitutional mandate following a unanimous 53–0 vote declaring probable cause on the consolidated impeachment complaints.
“This Committee has completed its constitutional duty to determine probable cause based on the evidence presented. On Monday, we will formally adopt the committee report, the resolution, and the Articles of Impeachment and transmit them to the plenary,” Luistro said.
The report consolidates allegations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, and threats allegedly made by Duterte against top government officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Lawmakers cited findings that Duterte allegedly handled P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds, with indications of rapid disbursements, questionable documentation, and irregular receipts. Investigators also flagged inconsistencies, including alleged falsified signatures and non-existent names among recipients.
The Commission on Audit issued a Notice of Disallowance covering more than P73 million, with potential liabilities possibly higher.
On the issue of unexplained wealth, the committee cited financial data showing Duterte’s declared net worth rising to about P88 million in 2024, alongside over P6.7 billion in transactions flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council involving the Vice President and her husband.
Luistro said the findings were based on records and sworn testimony.
“These are numbers, documents, and sworn testimonies that, taken together, establish a pattern that demands accountability,” she said.
Another key allegation stems from Duterte’s November 23, 2024 press conference, where she claimed she had instructed someone to kill top government officials if she were harmed. The video was later authenticated by the National Bureau of Investigation, which presented its findings to the Department of Justice.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag told lawmakers the statements may constitute inciting to sedition and grave threats, adding that investigators are also examining claims of an alleged assassination plot.
Luistro stressed that the committee’s work was guided by evidence and constitutional duty, not politics.
“This is not about politics. This is about the Constitution, about evidence, and about our duty to uphold public accountability,” she said.
Once adopted, the report will be transmitted to the plenary. If at least one-third of House members approve, the Articles of Impeachment will be sent to the Senate, which will convene as an impeachment court.