Vice President Sara Duterte expressed no surprise at plans to file a new impeachment complaint against her, highlighting the timing of the filing as part of a familiar political pattern.
In a statement on December 8, Duterte noted that impeachment appears to be used again as a bargaining tool ahead of the passage of the 2026 National Budget.
Duterte cited previous revelations from Senator Chiz Escudero and Representative Toby Tiangco, who claimed that in February 2024, signatures for her impeachment were courted in exchange for budget allocations. She said these claims demonstrate that the impeachment moves against her were motivated by price rather than principle.
“Despite these revelations, no inquiry or investigation has been conducted to hold anyone accountable,” Duterte said, criticizing the lack of action regarding alleged misuse of funds for political purposes.
The vice president emphasized her readiness to respond to any allegations based on fact and truth but expressed concern that the impeachment process is being exploited for political bargaining rather than governance.
She concluded by saying that Filipinos deserve better and called on lawmakers to stop using the language of “good governance” as a cover for budget-driven maneuvers.
Duterte’s statement comes amid renewed political tension as some House members and other lawmakers reportedly plan to revive the impeachment complaint following the one-year ban imposed by the courts.
