House panel finds two impeachment complaints vs Duterte sufficient in form, sets aside first rap

The House of Representatives committee on justice has deemed two impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte sufficient in form. It has also set aside the first rap for violating the one-year bar rule.

The panel decided 22-10 on a motion by Bukidnon Rep. Keith Flores to set aside the first impeachment complaint endorsed by the Makabayan bloc.

The impeachment bid was filed before the Office of the House Secretary General on Feb. 2. Lawmakers argued that the one-year bar rule states that a new impeachment complaint can only be filed on Feb. 6 based on the Supreme Court ruling 

"By set aside, it means that it will no longer be included in the proceedings of this committee," House justice committee chair Gerville Luistro said on March 2.

Second impeachment complaint withdrawn

Earlier in the session, the Tindig Pilipinas, led by Kiko Aquino Dee, also withdrew the second impeachment complaint against Duterte. This rap was endorsed by ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña.

Cendaña explained that this withdrawal is because the second complaint is, in essence, the same as the third one, which is based on the grounds of alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, plunder and/or malversation, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

"Hindi ito pag-urong, kundi pagpapatuloy ng kanyang sinimulan," he said. "From the beginning, their intent in filing was clear: build the strongest case that would hold Vice President Sara Duterte accountable for her acts of corruption and abuse of power."

"Their support for the third impeachment complaint well advances this goal."

Meanwhile, the remaining third and fourth impeachment complaints against Duterte have been deemed sufficient in form. 

The impeachment complaints come after the Supreme Court declared the articles of impeachment against her as constitutional in July 2025. It affirmed this in January 2026.

In its July ruling, the SC voided an impeachment complaint against Duterte for the reason that it was transmitted to the Senate without a plenary vote. They also said that the fourth impeachment complaint is barred by the one-year rule in the Constitution because there were three complaints that came ahead of it.

The high court, at the time, noted it was not absolving the VP of the charges.

Duterte is accused of misusing public funds, amassing unusual wealth, and threatening to kill President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and the House Speaker.

Recently, she announced her intention to run for president in the 2028 elections.