Quick Read
- The House Justice Committee has subpoenaed evidence, including records of alleged cash payments, to evaluate impeachment charges against Vice President Sara Duterte.
- The impeachment inquiry covers allegations ranging from the misuse of confidential government funds to conspiracy to assassinate top Philippine officials.
- Despite the legal proceedings, a March 2026 poll indicates Duterte maintains a 17-point lead for the 2028 presidential election.
MANILA (Azat TV) – The House of Representatives Committee on Justice has officially subpoenaed critical evidence in the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, signaling an escalation in the legislative inquiry. The subpoena targets documents and testimony regarding alleged cash envelopes that were reportedly distributed to government officials during Duterte’s tenure as Education Secretary.
Subpoena Targets Evidence in Impeachment Inquiry
The committee’s latest order requires the submission of records filed by former Education Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil Mercado. According to the subpoena, the House legislative archives must turn over these documents to the Justice Committee ahead of a scheduled hearing on April 14. This evidence includes transcripts and video recordings from previous hearings conducted by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability between September and November 2024. The move aims to consolidate evidence as lawmakers deliberate on whether there is sufficient probable cause to advance the impeachment complaints to a full chamber vote.
Allegations and the Political Stakes
The impeachment case centers on multiple serious allegations, including the misuse of hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential and intelligence funds within the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. Furthermore, the complaints include charges of plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, alongside allegations of illicit wealth accumulation. Duterte has previously dismissed the claims, specifically characterizing Mercado as a disgruntled former employee who was terminated for soliciting funds from private companies.
Polls Show Resilience Amid Legal Battles
Despite the intensifying legal pressure, recent data suggests that Duterte’s political base remains largely unshaken. A survey by Manila-based pollster WR Numero, conducted between March 10 and 17, 2026, shows Duterte leading the field for the 2028 presidential election with 36 percent support, holding a 17-point lead over her closest rival, Senator Raffy Tulfo. Analysts attribute this durability to a hardened core of loyalists and public sympathy following the international detention of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The subpoena of physical evidence marks a critical transition from testimony-based accusations to formal documentation, setting the stage for a decisive phase in the impeachment process that will determine if the charges against the Vice President are legally actionable or primarily political in nature.