Lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan

MANILA, Philippines – A third impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte was filed by priests, lawyers, NGOs at the House of Representatives Thursday over alleged misuse of public funds. 

Representing the complainants was lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan who assisted in submitting the complaint to House Secretary General Reginald Velasco. 

The group of complainants included six priests from the Diocese of Novaliches, Order of Carmelites and Congregation of Mission, leaders of non-government organizations Stop Corruption Philippines and Stand up for God Rosary Group, the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao and a lawyer.

“We are citing culpable violation of the constitution. We are also invoking betrayal of public Trust, plunder, malversation, technical malversation and bribery,” Ligutan said.

“This is primarily based on how the Office of the Vice President, how the sitting Vice President of the public disbursed the millions of pesos in 11 days without proper documentation,” he added.

The third complaint was endorsed by Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. and AAMBIS-OWA Party-list Rep. Lex Anthony Colada.

Duterte has repeatedly denied the allegations scrutinized in the House hearings and said these are just but “political attacks” to ruin her in the coming 2028 presidential elections. 

Duterte is the subject of congressional scrutiny over alleged irregularities in the utilization of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during her term as secretary. 

Velasco had told reporters that the first two complaints are still pending in his office. 

Senate President Chiz Escudero had maintained that the upper chamber will only get the ball rolling once a complaint has been endorsed to them. 

He also expressed concern on the time left for the Senate to study the complaints given the nearing holiday break. 

Apart from impeachment complaints, Duterte is also facing other charges including grave threats and 

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