The House prosecution panel has said that all four Articles of Impeachment filed against Vice President Sara Duterte are serious enough to warrant both removal from office and perpetual disqualification from holding any public post, should the Senate impeachment court find her guilty.
House prosecutors stressed that the penalties being sought reflect the gravity of the allegations, which they said involve major constitutional and legal violations.
The impeachment complaint includes accusations of alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth and inconsistencies in Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), alleged bribery linked to Department of Education funds, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
According to the prosecution, impeachment is distinct from ordinary criminal proceedings and is reserved for the most serious offenses under the Constitution, including betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high crimes.
The panel maintained that its position includes seeking both removal and lifetime disqualification, noting that impeachment judgments may separately impose these penalties depending on the Senate’s ruling.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on May 11, 2026, following a vote of 257 lawmakers in favor, 25 against, and nine abstentions. The Articles of Impeachment were subsequently transmitted to the Senate, which will act as an impeachment court.
The Senate is scheduled to hold a pre-trial conference on June 18, with the formal trial set to begin on July 6.