On December 4, 74 individuals and representatives of organizations filed an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. Makabayan bloc congressmen Rep. France Castro, Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Rep. Raoul Manuel endorsed the complaint.

The complaint is based on “betrayal of public trust” which stands on three issues: 1) the abuse, misuse, and embezzlement of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds; 2) systematic cover-up of the crime through fabricated reports, receipts, and documents submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA); and 3) deliberate obstruction of Congress’s investigation and scrutiny.

Most of the complaint’s details emerged during the Congress’ Good Governance and Accountability hearings which scrutinized Vice President Duterte’s spending of funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). The hearings focused on the anomalous use of both offices’ confidential and intelligence funds (CIF).

In seven hearings from September to November, Duterte and her officials high-handedly opposed the investigation to avoid accountability. Duterte and her officials repeatedly refused to comply with Congress’s summons. In one hearing, Duterte even refused to take an oath claiming that the investigation into her use of public funds was mere “politicking.” Instead of answering the congressmen’s questions, she repeatedly questioned Congress’ objectives. Her officials also repeatedly lied to cover up their master’s anomalies.

The hearings revealed that Duterte spent ₱125 million in confidential funds within 11 days in questionable ways. The COA demanded the return of the majority of this amount (₱73 million) due to misspending such as on food, medical expenses, and exorbitant rent of “safe houses.” Duterte was also revealed to have misrepresented certification letters to cover up the ₱150 million she embezzled and claimed to have spent on the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Youth Leadership Seminars (YLS).

Duterte’s chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, twice attempted to block COA from providing confidential funds related documents to Congress. For undermining the power of Congress, Lopez was detained for up to 10 days. Duterte made a scene when she blocked and prevented Lopez’s transfer to the women’s detention center in Mandaluyong. This resulted in a skirmish between Duterte’s military guards and Congress security officials and police. The PNP charged Duterte’s guards with direct assault, disobeying authority, and grave coercion. This also prompted the AFP to sack and replace her military guards.

The hearings exposed numerous irregularities in documentation and protocols, such as thousands of unsigned receipts, fabricated names like “Mary Grace Piattos,” and many others. That a single lawyer notarized almost all OVP and DepEd documents was also shown to be unprobable. Duterte also apparently attempted to bribe DepEd officials to follow her procedures for purchasing the department’s computers and books. Congressmen also noted the sharp increase of funds spent by the OVP, particularly in its “satellite offices.”

According to Makabayan, Duterte did not commit mere technical violations of spending procedures but a systematic embezzlement and theft from the public treasury. They demand her removal from office and permanent disqualification from holding any government position.

The group is calling on Congress to promptly address the filed complaint and for the public to closely monitor the process. Along with demanding accountability from Duterte, they are pushing for the termination of all confidential funds, which only serve as a source of corruption for those in power.