Philippine Vice President, Sara Duterte, at a House Committee Hearing. Image Source: Gerard Carreon; BenarNews

In a sharply worded June 24 filing, she described the case as “nothing more than a scrap of paper” and entered a plea of “not guilty.” House prosecutors countered swiftly on June 27, urging the Senate to deny her motion to dismiss and allow the trial to proceed.

The legal battle has widened into a broader test of political accountability, with both sides accusing the other of distorting constitutional processes for political gain.

Duterte’s Counterattack

In a 90-page “Answer ad cautelam,” a precautionary legal filing submitted while contesting jurisdiction, Duterte’s defense team accused the House of violating constitutional limits by endorsing multiple impeachment complaints within a year. But her rhetoric extended well beyond legal technicalities. She portrayed the impeachment case as a politically orchestrated offensive designed to undermine her legitimacy and silence dissent. In Duterte's words:

“The clear and unequivocal intention of the verified complaint is to use the impeachment power as a political weapon to harass, malign, and slander the Vice President and destroy her reputation.”

She warned that the impeachment could set a dangerous precedent—one that allows political actors to weaponize constitutional mechanisms against elected officials, escalating partisan conflict and eroding institutional trust.

[Duterte] described the case as “nothing more than a scrap of paper”

House Prosecutors Push Back

House prosecutors argued that the articles are “thoroughly drafted and contain sufficient allegations and evidence justifying a full-blown trial.” In their Senate filing, they emphasized: “The severity of the charges leaves no room for technical evasion. A trial is not only warranted but necessary to reinforce justice, uphold democratic principles, and affirm that no individual, regardless of rank or influence, stands above the law.” They added, “It is obvious from a simple reading of [Duterte’s response], which relies on misleading claims and baseless procedural objections, that the only legal strategy of the defense is to have the case dismissed and avoid trial.” Critics have noted that Duterte’s defense not only denies culpability but casts legitimate inquiry as illegitimate dissent—an approach some say reframes accountability as persecution in order to defuse public criticism. House prosecutors argued that Duterte's plea to dismiss the complaint was a legal maneuver designed to delay and deflect, not confront the evidence.

“A trial is not only warranted but necessary to reinforce justice, uphold democratic principles, and affirm that no individual, regardless of rank or influence, stands above the law.”

Key Allegations

The charges against Duterte span multiple domains—from inflammatory speech to alleged financial misconduct—each fueling the House’s case for trial.

At the center of the impeachment case is a Facebook livestream from November 2024, in which Duterte stated: “I have talked to a person… I said, if I get killed, go kill BBM [President Marcos], [First Lady] Liza Araneta, and [House Speaker] Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke.” The statement triggered criminal referrals from the National Bureau of Investigation for grave threats and potential graft violations.

A second core issue involves Duterte’s disbursement of ₱612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds within 11 days in 2022. Whistleblower accounts and audit findings allege funds were allocated using pseudonyms resembling snack brands. The Commission on Audit flagged irregular documentation, prompting concern about possible violations of the Government Auditing Code and anti-corruption statutes.

Duterte also faces criticism for failing to strongly condemn China's increasingly aggressive behavior in the West Philippine Sea. Prosecutors argue that her silence on incidents involving Chinese harassment of Philippine vessels represents a dereliction of constitutional duty to defend national sovereignty.

In addition, the impeachment complaint references longstanding allegations linking Duterte to extrajudicial killings during her time as mayor of Davao City. While not criminally charged, her name has been cited in reports and testimonies tied to abuses under the war on drugs—the same campaign for which her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, faces international investigation by the International Criminal Court. Prosecutors argue these associations erode public trust and violate the ethical standards expected of a national leader.

Political Fallout

On June 27, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil also questioned Duterte’s foreign engagements. “The people have the right to know if these trips benefited the nation,” she said, referring to a recent “personal” trip to Australia that reportedly involved undisclosed official activities. While this trip is not part of the formal impeachment complaint, it has drawn added scrutiny in the wake of the proceedings. The Office of the Vice President has not released any formal statement or documentation clarifying the purpose, funding, or outcomes of the trip.

The impeachment proceedings have exposed deep fractures within the Marcos-Duterte coalition. Representative Paolo Duterte called the process “a political hit job meant to discredit my sister.” The May 12 midterm elections reshaped the Senate’s composition, with several Duterte-aligned senators set to take office on July 28—raising the stakes of both timing and outcome. The results marked a political boost for Duterte, even as she fights to avoid trial. Analysts describe the impeachment as a flashpoint in the unraveling alliance between Duterte and President Marcos, with potential ripple effects on policymaking and foreign relations. The Senate’s earlier decision to remand the articles of impeachment to the House drew criticism from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, which denounced the move as “a betrayal of the Constitution.” Archbishop Socrates Villegas went further, declaring the delay “a sin.”

Responding to questions about whether the process could still be halted, House prosecutor Gerville Luistro underscored, “No one can stop this anymore, because jurisdiction has been acquired already by the impeachment court.”

Senate Decision Looms

The Senate has yet to rule on Duterte’s motion. A dismissal would set precedent for using technicalities to avoid trial. A full proceeding would test the chamber’s independence, especially as newly seated senators may shift the political balance. If convicted, Duterte would not only be removed from office but permanently barred from holding public office—a devastating outcome to the Duterte camp as she remains a leading figure in early 2028 presidential forecasts.

A May Pulse Asia poll places Duterte’s trust rating at 50%, down from 57% the previous month—a modest dip that analysts attribute to waning confidence among undecided voters. This erosion, analysts say, underscores the broader reputational stakes attached to the Senate’s upcoming decision.

As the nation awaits the Senate's decision, the opposing sides remain firmly entrenched. While Sara Duterte has called for the complaint to be “outrightly dismissed,” the House insists the evidence demands full scrutiny. At stake is not only the Vice President’s fate, but whether constitutional safeguards are upheld—or quietly recast to protect incumbency and political survival.

While Sara Duterte has called for the complaint to be “outrightly dismissed,” the House insists the evidence demands full scrutiny.

The Senate’s decision—expected before month’s end—will determine whether the case moves to trial or fades into political limbo.

Regardless of the outcome, the impeachment proceedings have become a defining moment in the Philippines’ democratic evolution—testing not only its institutions, but the public’s expectations of accountability at the highest levels.

REFERENCES

ABS-CBN News. (2025, June 24). Sara Duterte calls impeachment case ‘scrap of paper,’ pleads not guilty. https://www.abs-cbn.com/

CBCP News. (2025, June 9). Archbishop warns delaying Duterte impeachment a ‘grave sin’. https://cbcpnews.net/

KnowSulu. (2025, May 27). Sara Duterte’s Impeachment: A Pivotal Moment in Philippine Politics. https://knowsulu.ph/

Panti, L. T. (2025, June 27). House prosecutors ask Senate to junk VP Sara’s dismissal bid. GMA News. https://www.gmanetwork.com/

Romero, A. (2025, June 27). VP Sara dared to report results of foreign trips. PhilStar. https://www.philstar.com/

Reuters. (2025, June 24). ‘Scrap of paper’: Philippine VP Duterte wants impeachment complaint dismissed. https://www.reuters.com/