The House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice is set to proceed with its formal hearings on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, March 25, where evidences expected to be presented, witnesses may be called to testify, and lawmakers will begin examining the allegations in detail.

The hearings come weeks after Duterte signaled her intention to run for president in 2028.

Duterte faces multiple allegations, including the alleged misuse of public funds and threats she made during a late-night livestream in 2024 to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

"Sa security ko, kasi may kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta at si Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke. Nagbilin na ako...Pag namatay ako, sabi ko, huwag kang tumigil na. Hanggang 'di mo mapatay sila. And then he said yes. Huwag ka mag-alala...sa security ko, kasi may kinausap na ako na tao," the Vice President said on November 2024.

Under the 1987 Constitution, high-ranking officials such as the president, vice president, and chief justice may be impeached by the House of Representatives for offenses including culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, graft and corruption, bribery, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust.

Once impeached, the case is transmitted to the Senate, which conducts a trial that may result in acquittal or conviction. If convicted, she could be removed from office and permanently barred from seeking public office.

Previous impeachment attempt

The first-ever and historic impeachment complaint against Duterte was filed on December 2024, accusing her of constitutional violations, corruption, and other high crimes related to alleged irregularities in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education (DepEd), when she was the secretary of the department.

In February 2025, the House impeached Duterte on similar grounds. However, the Supreme Court struck down the proceedings six months later, citing a constitutional provision that prohibits multiple impeachment complaints against the same official within a one-year period. The court clarified that the ruling did not address the merits of the allegations.

The decision effectively barred new impeachment efforts until February 6, 2026, preventing the Senate from convening as an impeachment tribunal during that period.

Complaints filed

Following the expiration of the one-year prohibition, four new impeachment complaints were filed in February 2026. These complaints reiterated earlier allegations, including the misuse of confidential funds, bribery, threats against senior officials, and violations of the Constitution.

The House Committee on Justice has since ruled that the third and fourth complaints are “sufficient in grounds,” allowing the process to move forward.

The second complaint was withdrawn by its proponents to consolidate efforts behind the third complaint, while the first was set aside for allegedly violating the one-year bar rule.

Under House rules, impeachment proceedings follow several stages: filing and referral, determination of sufficiency in form and substance, determination of sufficiency in grounds, hearings for evidence and testimonies, and the drafting of a committee report and recommendation.

With the complaints now deemed sufficient in both substance and grounds, the process enters the evidentiary phase. Beginning March 25, the committee will hear testimonies, review evidence, and consider Duterte’s written response.

Duterte has been invited to attend the hearings. However, her legal counsel has informed the House that she will not appear at the initial session, opting instead to submit her defense through written pleadings.

The outcome of the House hearings will determine whether the impeachment case advances to the Senate for trial. A conviction there would remove Duterte from office and disqualify her from holding future public office, while an acquittal would allow her to remain in her position.

The proceedings are expected to draw significant public and political attention, given their implications for governance and the country’s political landscape ahead of the 2028 presidential elections.