MANILA, Philippines – A 50-page impeachment complaint was filed against Vice President Sara Duterte by a civil society group before the Office of the Secretary General at the House of Representatives.

The complaint, crafted by sectoral representatives, religious leaders, and families of drug war victims, was endorsed on the afternoon of December 2, 2024, by Akbayan Partylist Representative Percival Cendana.

The complainants include 17 individuals: Catholic priests Flavie Villanueva and Robert Reyes, former Magdalo Partylist Representative Gary Alejano, Randy Francisco delos Santos, former presidential peace adviser Ging Deles, Professor Francis Joseph Dee, Leah Lopez Navarro, urban poor group representative Alice Murphy, Eugene Louie Gonzales, Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio, Rowena Amon, Filomena Cinco, Teddy Lopez, Sr. Susan Santos Esmile, Sr. Mary Grace de Guzman, and Ma. Yvonne Christina Jereza.

Cendana cited “betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and other high crimes” as grounds for the impeachment. Former Senator Leila de Lima added that “there are five grounds for impeachment, but the complaint was condensed into four grounds as indicated in the articles of impeachment,” explaining that “wala lang na ground for impeachment is treason so majority of the grounds are present.”

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco formally received the complaint, stating, “The House of Representatives is constitutionally mandated to act on any impeachment complaint filed in accordance with the 1987 Philippine Constitution.”

Cendana described the filing and endorsement of the impeachment complaint as “historic,” declaring, “Panahon na para isara ng taumbayan ang bangungot na dulot ni Sara.” He emphasized that the filing is “just the first step” in achieving justice.

The impeachment complaint will undergo deliberation in the House of Representatives, where a one-third vote of all members is required for the impeachment trial to proceed to the Senate.

📷 Leila de Lima FB