MANILA — The House Committee on Justice approved the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, adopting its committee report and forwarding the case to the plenary for deliberation and voting after finding probable cause based on weeks of hearings and documentary evidence.

A total of 55 members present backed the report, with the panel concluding that the evidence met the constitutional threshold to proceed.

“Let it be placed on the record that 55, out of 55 Justice members physically present, manifested their support to the approval of the Committee Report, to the attached resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment, as amended. The Chair therefore declares the motion unanimously approved,” House Committee on Justice chair Gerville Luistro said.

The report consolidates two verified complaints and cites several grounds for impeachment, including culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, and betrayal of public trust.

Lawmakers traced the complaints to filings made in early February by Francisca “France” Castro and Francis Joseph Aquino Dee, along with subsequent complaints from Fr. Joel Saballa and lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera.

The committee accepted the withdrawal of one complaint and dismissed another for violating the one-year bar rule, proceeding instead with the complaints filed by Saballa and Cabrera. These were deemed sufficient in form and later sufficient in substance through a 54-1 vote.

On March 16, Duterte submitted a “Consolidated Verified Answer Ad Cautelam,” while complainants waived their right to respond, allowing the panel to move forward with determining grounds and probable cause.

By March 18, the committee unanimously found sufficient grounds for impeachment.

Luistro said lawmakers had thoroughly reviewed testimonies, audit findings and financial records presented during the hearings.

The Articles of Impeachment accuse Duterte of multiple acts, including alleged misuse and irregular liquidation of confidential funds amounting to at least PHP500 million in the Office of the Vice President and PHP112.5 million in the Department of Education, as well as alleged unexplained wealth and incomplete asset disclosures in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.

Other allegations include bribery and corruption involving officials under her authority, alleged solicitation or contracting of violent acts against top government officials, and actions described as political destabilization and abuse of power.

The report cited audit findings from the Commission on Audit, financial data flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, and testimonies from witnesses such as forensic document examiners and government auditors.

During the hearings, lawmakers were presented with accounts of large cash movements through informal channels, questioned receipts and liquidation documents, including those flagged for having identical handwriting, and certifications indicating that some listed recipients did not appear in official records.

Audit findings also ordered the refund of tens of millions of pesos and flagged hundreds of millions more for irregularities, while reports pointed to billions of pesos in financial transactions linked to accounts under scrutiny.

Luistro said the committee also considered Duterte’s sworn SALN filings, noting discrepancies between declared assets and financial data presented during proceedings.

The panel emphasized that it followed constitutional procedures, beginning with determinations of sufficiency in form and substance before conducting hearings to establish probable cause.

The report added that the committee did not open a sealed box of tax records submitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, citing legal limitations and the view that existing evidence was sufficient at the committee level.

With the report approved, the case will now proceed to the House plenary, where lawmakers will decide whether to adopt the Articles of Impeachment.

If at least one-third of House members vote in favor, the Articles will be transmitted to the Senate, which will convene as an impeachment court.