House leaders believe Vice President Sara Duterte is not yet off the hook over her supposed misuse of P612-million in confidential funds despite the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision rendering her impeachment case as unconstitutional.
Deputy Speakers Francisco Paolo Ortega V (1st District, La Union) and Jefferson ‘Jay’ Khonghun (1st District, Zambales) echoed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s statement that the SC ruling declaring the impeachment complaint against Duterte did not absolve her accountability.
“I agree with the President. The Supreme Court decision delved on procedural issues but not on the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) received by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when she was education secretary,” Ortega said.
“The accountability part was not resolved so we intend to continue asking her to account for those funds and answer for how they have been handled or mishandled,” he added.
Members of the High Tribunal made it clear in its resolution that their “ruling does not absolve petitioner VP Sara Duterte from any of the charges. Any ruling on the charges against her can only be accomplished through another impeachment process, followed by a trial and conviction by the Senate.”
Khonghun said President Marcos’ statement jibed with the pronouncement of the SC that it did not touch on Duterte’s accountability in its ruling.
“The people should understand this: the entire 93-page ruling tackled the impeachment process and rules in the House of Representatives. It did not absolve VP Duterte of culpability in the use of P612.5-million received by her offices,” he said.
“In other words, the Vice President is not yet off the hook on the use of this large amount of taxpayers’ money. We will pursue accountability on her part wherever it takes us,” Khonghun emphasized.
The Sambal legislator said social media posts making it appear that the High Court has absolved the Vice President “are false.”
Ortega and Khonghun said they are hoping the SC would reverse its ruling and allow the impeachment trial to proceed.
“If the decision remains, then we will have to discuss after Feb. 6, 2026 how to pursue accountability on the part of VP Sara Duterte for her mishandling of P612.5 million in confidential funds in 2022 and 2023,” Ortega said.
Under the SC ruling, Feb. 6 next year is the end of the one-year period during which another impeachment complaint cannot be filed against the Vice President.
