Second Impeachment Bid vs VP Sara Withdrawn
Petitioners behind the second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte have formally withdrawn their backing, choosing instead to support a separate complaint filed by members of the clergy and legal community.
In a letter submitted to the House Office of the Secretary General on Monday, March 2, Representatives Leila de Lima and Perci Cendaña informed the House Committee on Justice that they would no longer endorse the second complaint and would now back the third impeachment complaint, which De Lima had already supported.
Seventeen petitioners, including civil society leaders, urban poor representatives, families of extrajudicial killing victims, and members of the clergy, also filed a separate request to withdraw the complaint they originally lodged on February 2.
Among those named were Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor Francis Joseph "Kiko" Aquino Dee, Father Flavie Villanueva, and former lawmaker Teddy Baguilat.
In their letter, the petitioners said they believe the third complaint "contains the same allegations and substantial evidence" as the one they filed, and that consolidating support would help expedite the accountability process.
"In order to remove any obstacles against the process of seeking accountability and answers from Vice President Duterte, we believe it is most prudent to withdraw the said complaint," the letter read.
The third impeachment complaint cites multiple grounds, including culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, plunder, malversation, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high crimes, all allegedly linked to the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.
During its first hearing on Monday, the House justice committee approved the withdrawal after the petitioners took their oath and confirmed their decision.
The panel is now expected to assess whether the remaining complaints meet the required standards of form and substance before proceeding to a more extensive review of the allegations.
