Camille Naredo

House Committee on Justice formally opens impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives on March 25, 2026, in her absence. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

House Committee on Justice formally opens impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives on March 25, 2026, in her absence.
Vice President Duterte was a "no-show," as confirmed by her legal team late Tuesday. Her counsels cited "constitutional objections" and characterized the inquiry as a "fishing expedition." Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP Sara Duterte- Impeachment

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- House Deputy Minority Leader Perci Cendaña is hopeful that the possible impeachment trial at the Senate against Vice President Sara Duterte will begin before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s State of the Nation Address in July.</p><p>Cendaña also talked about the timeline he is hoping for, including the determination of probable cause being finished while Congress is in recess, and the matter reaching the plenary by May.</p><p>This will be followed by the transmittal of articles of impeachment to the Senate. </p><p>&quot;We are hopeful na matapos ito within the break para pag-resume natin nang Mayo, maisalang na ito sa plenaryo. Makapaglabas na tayo ng articles of impeachment, maiakyat na sa Senado, and the soonest time possible, hopefully before SONA sana, masimulan na ang impeachment trial,&quot; Cendaña said on Wednesday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/29/house-hearings-on-vp-duterte-impeachment-seen-to-wrap-up-by-end-may-1139">READ: House hearings on VP Duterte impeachment seen to wrap up by end-May</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>APRIL 14 HEARING</strong></div><div><strong><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/177504332522520260325-vp-sara-impeachment-house-coo-justice-JC1886.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="House Committee on Justice formally opens impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives on March 25, 2026, in her absence. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">House Committee on Justice formally opens impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives on March 25, 2026, in her absence. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span> </strong>In preparation for the next House Committee on Justice meeting on April 14 regarding the impeachment complaints, Cendaña said he is in constant communication with the individuals behind the second complaint.</div><p>&quot;Kung matatandaan ng ating mga kababayan, nag-endorse tayo nung second complaint with the civil society representatives who also filed the first complaint in the 19th Congress. So constant &#x27;yung ating communication with them para tiyakin na maco-cover natin lahat ng grounds that were mentioned in the second impeachment complaint, which eventually, we threw our support sa third impeachment complaint na mayroon tayo ngayon,&quot; Cendaña told reporters.</p><p>It can be recalled that complainants and endorsers of the second impeachment complaint withdrew the complaint, supporting the third one instead.</p><p>Out of all of the evidence and documents they are expecting, Cendaña shared he is looking forward to the testimony of Duterte&#x27;s self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/25/house-justice-panel-orders-subpoena-for-ramil-madriaga-michael-poa-2215">READ: House justice panel orders subpoena for Ramil Madriaga, Michael Poa</a></div><p>The lawmaker believes this will establish the link between the vice president and what he called a &quot;scam&quot; involving confidential funds.</p><p>&quot;Pero also at the same time, we hope to establish through the evidence that will be gathered &#x27;yung pattern that will eventually lead to &#x27;yung usapin ng ill-gotten wealth na lalabas ito &#x27;pag lumabas na &#x27;yung kanyang SALN at &#x27;yung other relevant documents,&quot; Cendaña added. </p><p>For Cendaña, Duterte has no choice but to face accountability after announcing her plans to run for president. </p><p>Someone gunning for the top position has no right to always run from being held accountable, Cendaña said.</p><p>&quot;Sa totoo lang, sa kanyang pag-a-announce ng kanyang bid for the presidency, wala siyang choice. Kailangan niyang humarap sa accountability na sinasabi niya, gagawin niya &#x27;yun pagdating sa Senate, at iwasan na niya &#x27;yung kanyang laging pagtakbo sa Supreme Court para pigilan ang prosesong ito. Walang karapatan ang isang tao na gustong maging presidente ng Pilipinas na laging tumatakas sa pananagutan,&quot; Cendaña added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DOCUMENTS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK </strong></div><p>House Committee on Justice member and Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon expects all documents the justice panel ordered the issuance of subpoenas for will be in their hands by next week.</p><p>Among records the committee look to get ahold of for impeachment proceedings are Duterte&#x27;s statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) over some years, as well as her and her husband&#x27;s income tax returns (ITR).</p><p>&quot;Hopefully by the end of next week, complete na po– nakapag-submit na po &#x27;yun pong lahat ng mga na-issue-an po ng subpoena. So our expectation from, particularly the government agencies, so our expectation from the BIR, the Ombudsman, and from &#x27;yun pong Securities and Exchange Commission, lahat po ng tax documents, corporate documents, ng pangalawang pangulo, ni Atty. Mans Carpio at ng kanila pong mga kumpanya ay naisumite na po sa komite,&quot; Ridon told the media on Wednesday.</p><p>Cendaña said they are confident the Supreme Court will junk or refuse to grant the petition asking for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the impeachment proceedings in the House because the justice committee went through a &quot;very thoughtful, step-by-step process&quot; that complied with the constitution.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/28/sara-duterte-says-lawyers-who-filed-tro-vs-impeachment-did-not-consult-her-1733">READ: Sara Duterte says lawyers who filed TRO vs impeachment did not consult her</a></div><p>&quot;Kung babasahin natin &#x27;yung petition nung mga lawyers na alam naman nating alyado ng vice president, talagang walang basis &#x27;yung kanilang petisyon sa Supreme Court. So kung ako lang ang tatanungin, sana dedmahin nalang ng Supreme Court itong petisyon na ito,&quot; Cendaña said.</p><p>Duterte earlier said the lawyers who filed the petition did not consult her.</p>

<p>House Deputy Minority Leader Perci Cendaña is hopeful that the possible impeachment trial at the Senate against Vice President Sara Duterte will begin before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address in July.</p>

House Deputy Minority Leader Perci Cendaña is hopeful that the possible impeachment trial at the Senate against Vice President Sara Duterte will begin before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address in July.

Lawmaker hopeful possible impeachment trial vs. Duterte to begin before SONA

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Lawmaker hopeful possible impeachment trial vs. Duterte to begin before SONA

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 01, 2026 07:51 PM PHT

Read More:

impeachment

Sara Duterte

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