Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday dismissed the impeachment complaint endorsed by Akbayan, describing it as a paper lacking any evidence to substantiate its allegations.
Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña, who supported the 2025 impeachment complaint against Duterte, has endorsed a new complaint after the Supreme Court ruled that the previous case was barred by the one-year rule.
Cendaña said the renewed complaint is reportedly driven by growing public concern over corruption, with Cendaña emphasizing the need to hold accountable those involved in the misuse of public funds, including projects for flood control and student programs.
In a statement, Duterte said the complaint is part of a recurrent political attack, recalling previous attempts during her exit from the Cabinet and the 19th Congress’ “investigation in aid of legislation,” which she called a “fishing expedition” aimed at a planned impeachment.
She criticized the repeated use of the Mary Grace Piattos issue, alleging it was flagged as corruption despite no proven misuse of confidential funds. Duterte also highlighted reports of vote-buying and promises of projects to certain lawmakers to push the impeachment.
“Ang impeachment complaint na inendorso ng Akbayan ay isang papel na walang kalakip na kahit anong ebidensiyang magpapatunay sa mga paratang na isinasaad dito. Hindi na ito bago. Matatandaan na ang impeachment laban sa akin ang naging sagot nila sa aking pag-alis sa Gabinete, isang hakbang na isinagawa dahil hindi na maipaliwanag ng Pangulo ang patuloy na pagkalugmok ng bayan sa kahirapan dulot ng kanyang kapabayaan at bisyo,” she said.
The vice president called the effort politically motivated and an abuse of the impeachment process.
Duterte cited a 2024 speech by Akbayan leader Risa Hontiveros, which she said revealed the group’s political agenda.
“[“Habang ang anak niya ay may kapangyarihan pa, hindi magiging madali ang ating laban. While VP Sara is in power, the threat of a full-blown Duterte comeback is still a very real and present danger. For one, they are supported by one major superpower, China.”] Kaya malinaw na lahat ng ito ay isang uri ng harassment at pang-aabuso sa proseso ng impeachment ng grupong Akbayan. Hindi malinaw kung ano ang ipinaglalaban nila para sa kaayusan ng bayan, pero napakalinaw ng kanilang pamumulitika at pagpapahirap sa usaping diplomasya ng ating bansa,” Duterte said.
Duterte emphasized that the fight is not just about one person or group but about truth, justice, and national dignity.
She warned that when political power is misused, the ultimate losers are the Filipino people.
“Sa huli, ang tunay na laban ay hindi lamang laban ng iisang tao o iisang grupo—ito ay laban para sa katotohanan at sa dangal ng ating bansa. Nawa’y magsilbi itong paalala sa ating lahat na ang kapangyarihan ng impeachment ay hindi dapat ginagawang sandata ng pulitika, kundi isang banal na proseso para sa hustisya at pananagutan. Sapagkat kapag nanaig ang abuso, ang tunay na talunan ay ang sambayanang Pilipino,” she said.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he has no reaction to the impeachment complaint filed against the vice president, stressing that the matter is now in the hands of the House of Representatives:
“No reaction, hindi ko trabaho yan, trabaho yan House. Pabayaan mo silang matrabaho and I think, I’m sure they will handle it properly. Let them do their job,” he said.
