Marilyn Cahatol

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

Harlene Delgado

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/177407078991720260218-vp-sara-duterte-presidency-MT2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" 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. Duterte outlines her priorities, including governance reforms, public service continuity, and national development. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/><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. Duterte outlines her priorities, including governance reforms, public service continuity, and national development. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong> — Vice President Sara Duterte is &quot;duty-bound&quot; to attend the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/19/vp-duterte-complainants-invited-to-march-25-house-hearing-on-impeachment-1922">March 25 hearing</a> of the House Committee on Justice on the impeachment raps against her, according to one of the lawyers in complaints filed against her.</p><p>Dino de Leon, who is also part of civil society group Tindig Pilipinas that filed the second complaint that was later withdrawn to support the third complaint, said the hearing is a constitutional process that Duterte must honor.</p><p>“’Yung Constitution po sinasabi this is a sacred process, at kailangan galangin ni Sara Duterte ang mga institusyon including the House of Representatives, including eventually the Senate ... accountability ito, kailangan, mag-explain siya,” de Leon said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City Saturday, March 21.</p><p>(The Constitution says that this is a sacred process and Sara Duterte must respect that are part of it, including the House of Representatives and eventually the Senate... this is accountability, she has to explain)</p><p>The House panel has yet to decide on whether the complaints should be brought to the floor for voting on whether to impeach Duterte.</p><p>Lawyer Michael Poa of Duterte&#x27;s legal team said this week that the vice president has yet to decide on whether to attend. He said that he personally does not think Duterte has anything to gain from doing so.</p><p>De Leon said he expects Duterte to skip the hearing or evade questions if she does show up.</p><p>“Bagkus ililihis na naman at magagalit at sasabihin pulitika lamang ito,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Instead, she will divert the issue and say that this is all politics)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/19/vp-sara-duterte-camp-warned-vs-skipping-house-mini-trial-on-impeachment-1320">VP Sara Duterte, camp warned vs skipping House &#x27;mini-trial&#x27; on impeachment complaint</a></div><p>Poa, spokesperson of Duterte’s impeachment defense team, has said &quot;there is no requirement under the applicable rules for her personal attendance” and that the decision will be made on advice of counsel.</p><p>Meanwhile, de Leon also expressed concern on Duterte’s Consolidated Verified Answer Ad Cautelam, calling it a &quot;non-answer.&quot;</p><p>“[T]he attitude is non-answer, the attitude is against accountability which is the very soul of the Constitution,” he said.</p><p>Poa earlier said they disagree with the &quot;framing&quot; of Duterte’s reply as a &quot;non-answer&quot;, saying “it disregards the fundamental points that we are raising”.</p><div> </div><div><strong>’PEOPLE’S COURT’</strong></div><p>Jimmy Regalario of the Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya said they plan to convene a parallel “People’s Court” composed of former justices, members of the clergy and the academe, should the impeachment case against Duterte reach the Senate for trial.</p><p>He said he plans to reach out to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to allow them to set up within the Senate’s premises or if not, outside its gate.</p><p>“Habang nagsasagawa ng pagdinig doon sa loob ng Senado, magtatayo kami ng People’s Court doon maski na outside the gate eh if they will allow us, doon sa loob ng gate, the better,’ Regalario stated.</p><p>(While they are conducting the trial inside the Senate, we will put up a People&#x27;s court outside... outside the gate, or inside the compound would be even better)</p><p>He said the people have a right to do that, adding it will be a way to keep an eye on proceedings.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/20/what-to-expect-at-start-of-sara-duterte-impeachment-hearing-proper-1503">Sara Duterte impeachment hearing proper to start with Madriaga custody, conflict of interest concerns: Luistro</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QIG2PJCRNPc?si=o7D6ezCDVuc_AEzI" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte is "duty-bound" to attend the March 25 hearing of the House Committee on Justice on the two impeachment raps against her, according to one of the lawyers of the second impeachment complaint.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte is "duty-bound" to attend the March 25 hearing of the House Committee on Justice on the two impeachment raps against her, according to one of the lawyers of the second impeachment complaint.

Sara Duterte ‘duty-bound’ to attend March 25 House panel impeach hearing — lawyer

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Sara Duterte ‘duty-bound’ to attend March 25 House panel impeach hearing — lawyer

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 21, 2026 02:20 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 21, 2026 03:53 PM PHT

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Sara Duterte

House

Senate

impeachment

Dino de Leon

Jimmy Regalario

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