Sara Duterte demands evidence in impeachment proceedings

Vice President Sara Duterte has challenged the impeachment proceedings against her, demanding that prosecutors provide concrete evidence rather than relying on what she termed “insults, speculation, or political theatrics.” Duterte specifically dismissed characterizations of her as the “mastermind of a scam,” arguing that personal attacks from lawyers and senators do not constitute legal proof of impeachable offenses.

The impeachment efforts stem from two complaints filed on February 2, 2026. The first, by the Makabayan bloc, alleges betrayal of public trust regarding the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and the falsification of Commission on Audit documents. The second, filed by a civil society coalition, alleges constitutional violations, graft, corruption, bribery, and abuse of power.

Public perception regarding the charges has shifted slightly following testimony from witness Gina Acosta. According to a Pulso Intelligence tracker, the percentage of Filipinos believing the Vice President is guilty rose from 34.3% to 36.3% between mid-August. Acosta testified that confidential funds, ranging from ₱125 million to ₱500 million, were released under the Vice President’s orders and logged using aliases.