Groups ask Ombudsman to probe impeachment raps vs VP Duterte

A CITIZEN coalition on Monday filed a letter before the Office of the Ombudsman urging an investigation into allegations raised in the impeachment complaints against Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio over her alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) and grave abuse of power.

“We are calling on the Ombudsman to take the cases against Vice-President Sara Duterte seriously, to investigate the articles of impeachment,” said Francis Joseph “Kiko” Aquino Dee, co-convenor of the Tindig Pilipinas, in an interview with reporters.

Tindig Pilipinas, along with Magdalo and Mamamayang Liberal, was among the groups that filed the first impeachment complaint against Ms. Duterte in 2024.

In their letter, the groups asked the Ombudsman to initiate a motu proprio investigation and, if warranted, file appropriate cases against the Vice-President.

In a separate statement, Akbayan called Ms. Duterte’s earlier justification that she used the confidential funds to “investigate corruption” within her agency an “absurd alibi” meant to divert public attention from her alleged misuse of public money.

The Office of the Vice-President (OVP) did not immediately respond to a Viber message seeking comment.

The complaints accused Ms. Duterte of committing a betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. These include her alleged public admission of plotting assassinations against the President, the First Lady, and the former House Speaker, as well as her alleged misuse of confidential funds under both the OVP and the Department of Education.

Tindig Pilipinas said Ms. Duterte’s “disturbing public admission” reflected the “violence and impunity” that marked her father’s anti-drug campaign.

The coalition also demanded full transparency on the use of confidential funds, comparing the issue to other alleged corruption cases such as ghost flood control projects.

The groups said the Ombudsman must demonstrate that its anti-corruption mandate “applies equally to all officials” and that “no one, not even the Vice-President, should be beyond the reach of the law.”

In July, the Supreme Court struck down the House’s impeachment complaint against Ms. Duterte, ruling that it had violated the one-year bar rule and her right to due process. The high court clarified that she was not absolved of the charges, and that a new complaint could only be filed starting February next year.

Critics have pointed to Ms. Duterte as among those positioning for the 2028 presidential elections, given that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is limited to a single term.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” C. Remulla said in a press briefing on Monday that his office would not set aside the articles of impeachment filed against Ms. Duterte and that these could serve as a reference in their fact-finding efforts to assess the allegations against her.

“It will serve as a good guide,” Mr. Remulla said. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking