A second impeachment complaint has been filed against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives, escalating the political pressure on her following an alleged threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Bloomberg reports.
The complaint, lodged Wednesday by a coalition of former lawmakers and activists, accuses Duterte of betrayal of public trust, specifically citing the alleged misuse of over 600 million pesos (approximately $10 million) in confidential funds. Former Congressman Teddy Casino confirmed the filing, while lawmakers France Castro and Raoul Manuel of the Makabayan bloc announced their support for the complaint.
This latest challenge comes amid a growing rift between Duterte and Marcos, her former running mate in the 2022 elections. While impeachment complaints can be filed by any citizen in the Philippines, the success of such a move would allow President Marcos to appoint a new vice president from among members of Congress.
Monday saw the filing of the first impeachment complaint against Duterte, alleging corruption, bribery, and other offenses. That complaint was submitted by civil society groups and former government officials and backed by a lawmaker from the Akbayan party.