Camille Naredo

Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Duterte outlines her priorities, including governance reforms, public service continuity, and national development. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP SARA DUTERTE

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177183459283120260218-vp-sara-duterte-presidency-MT7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The House of Representatives has initiated the impeachment proceeding against Vice President Sara Duterte, triggering the one-year ban on subsequent complaints against her.</p><p>During House plenary session on Monday, the lower chamber referred the four impeachment complaints against Duterte to the House Committee on Justice.</p><p>“Hindi malayo na mag-start na rin ang Committee on Justice. It really depends on the Committee Chair, Representative Luistro, kung mag-start na baka Monday na… Just like yung impeachment complaint against PBBM, ang una munang gagawin, ang una munang tatalakayin would be the determination of sufficiency in form and substance,” House Deputy Minority Leader and ML Party List Representative Leila de Lima said.</p><p>For House Deputy Speaker and La Union 1st District Representative Paolo Ortega, it is better for the complaints to pass through the House Committee on Justice than going through the “fast track” route, which will require the signature of at least a third of House members upon filing.</p><p>“Mas mainam siguro na ganoon, since nagkaroon tayo ng Supreme Court issues before,” Ortega said, referring to the Supreme Court decision declaring unconstitutional the articles of impeachment filed by the 19th Congress lower chamber to the Senate.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/8/sara-duterte-claims-impeachment-threat-a-bargaining-chip-in-2026-budget-1040">Sara Duterte claims impeachment threat a ‘bargaining chip’ in 2026 budget</a></div><p>A common ground in the four impeachment complaints against Duterte is her alleged misuse of confidential funds, including as basis the sworn testimony of Duterte’s alleged bagman Ramil Madriaga.</p><p>Ortega, who endorsed the 4th complaint, backed the request of the complainant for the House panel to subpoena Duterte’s bank records, as well as that of her immediate family’s.</p><p>“May smoking gun. Lumabas na nga rin ‘yung mga testimony ni Madriaga. So nakikita nating sobrang importante po ‘yun na mausisa,” he said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>WITH BLESSING?</strong> </div><p>The 4th impeachment complaint endorsed by two lawmakers from the House majority is a sign that efforts seeking to impeach the Vice President have the “blessing” of the House leadership, according to ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio.</p><p>“I think it would be fair to say na ganoon, na malinaw nga na may basbas at suporta ang impeachment complaint laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte ng leadership,” he said.</p><p>Ortega denied this, as well as claims that the complaint he endorsed has the “blessing” of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/21/marcos-reacts-to-sara-duterte-s-plans-to-run-for-president-that-s-her-choice-1335">Marcos reacts to Sara Duterte&#x27;s plans to run for president: &#x27;That&#x27;s her choice&#x27;</a></div><p>Still, Ortega believes Lakas-CMD will support the complaint. He also expressed confidence that at least a third of House members will support elevating to the Senate the impeachment complaint against Duterte.</p><p>“Parang ‘pag sinabi kasing may basbas, sila po ‘yung pinanggalingan. Hindi po. Sarili po naming desisyon ito. Matagal na pong hindi Speaker si Speaker Martin… ‘Yung basis naman po ng mga complaints ay halos pareho po nung 19th Congress… Parang deja vu lang yung 4th complaint from the 19th Congress na complaint. We are expecting that Lakas would also support the 4th impeachment complaint,” Ortega said.</p><p>“Very strong po ‘yung basis, at witness po kayo lahat d’yan. Natalakay po lahat ito sa mga committees namin before. So, parang no-brainer naman po siya for me,” he added.</p><p>“Mas confident pa siguro ako now dahil uusisiiin po siya sa committee level. So mas mapag-uusapan, mas mapagde-debatehan, mas mae-engage ‘yung mga different views from the different legislators. So confident ako na makukuha pa rin ‘yung vote,” Ortega noted.</p><div> </div><div><strong>UNDAUNTED</strong></div><p>Endorsers of the impeachment complaints against Duterte are “undaunted” by her announcement of plans to run for President in 2028. </p><p>Ortega believes it will have no “no effect” on the House Committee on Justice deliberations on the impeachment complaints against the Vice President. He sees the impeachment complaints as “possibly” a motivation for the VP’s announcement.</p><p>“Hindi naman ako nasindak... Parang matagal naman na siyang nagpaparamdam. Wala naman actually bago doon… So baka kailangan ng hype. Parang wala naman pong epekto sa akin ‘yung pag-declare niya ng pagtakbo sa Presidente. Kahit sino naman po pwedeng gawin ‘yan eh, na mag-declare sila ng nais nilang takbuhan for 2028,” Ortega said.</p><p>“Siguro pinapalakas niya ang pundasyon niya.  Part siguro ng diskarte niya ‘yun na manligaw. So kung ganoon siya manligaw, pwersahan ang gusto nila,” he added.</p><p>”I don’t think maiimpluwensyahan o matatakot or mai-intimidate ‘yung committee, as long as nandyan nakalatag ang mga importanteng facts,” Ortega noted.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/18/sara-duterte-to-run-for-president-1102">Sara Duterte to run for president</a></div><p>Asked whether they are “afraid” of possible repercussions should Duterte be elected President in 2028, Ortega and Tinio said it is the Vice President who should be afraid of the public’s call for accountability.</p><p>“Dapat matakot po sila sa taumbayan kasi marami pong tanong na nakabinbin, marami pong alegasyon na nandyan,” Ortega said.</p><p>“Si Vice President Sara ang dapat matakot dahil mananagot siya sa pagwaldas sa confidential funds. ‘Yan ang demand ng taumbayan, in the same way na nanagot ang kanyang tatay para sa crimes against humanity at nasa ICC siya ngayon,” Tinio added.</p><p>Ortega urged the VP to face the allegations against her.</p><p>“She wants to be the President, so kung mataas ang tatakbuhin mong position, you are held to a higher standard. Kung tatakbo ka, ‘wag kang tumakbo, harapin mo,” he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/6/senators-voting-on-marcoleta-motion-to-archive-sara-duterte-impeachment-1906">Senate archives Sara Duterte impeachment case</a></div><p>On the claim that the administration is smearing the VP, Ortega said: “Hindi ka naman pwedeng sirain ng ibang tao kung wala silang basehan o paghuhugutan. Sabi ko nga, she had all of the time, she had the platform, she had the position to defend herself, but she chose to be quiet about it and just turn her back.”</p><p>He issued this call to fellow lawmakers.</p><p>“Tignan po nila ‘yung merits ng impeachment, ng mga articles of impeachment, usisain, araling maigi, balikan nila ang nakaraang Kongreso. Kasi nga po at the end of the day ang amo natin ang taumbayan, hindi natin amo ‘yung mga nakatayo d’yan at mga tatayong pulitiko,” Ortega said.</p>

<p>Endorsers of the impeachment complaints against Duterte are “undaunted” by her announcement of plans to run for President in 2028.</p>

Endorsers of the impeachment complaints against Duterte are “undaunted” by her announcement of plans to run for President in 2028.

House initiates impeachment proceeding against VP Duterte

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House initiates impeachment proceeding against VP Duterte

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 23, 2026 04:19 PM PHT

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Sara Duterte

Impeachment

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