APCHRP backs Sara Duterte impeachment, demands accountability

The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines has backed calls to hold Vice President Sara Duterte accountable through impeachment, saying the Senate trial must address allegations involving public funds, unexplained wealth, and betrayal of public trust.

The coalition, known as APCHRP, said Duterte declined to personally appear when the Senate opened her impeachment trial on July 6 and instead participated through her lawyers.

Duterte’s legal team said her decision to appear through counsel was part of its legal strategy and did not indicate a lack of accountability or transparency.

The vice president has denied wrongdoing and described the impeachment case as politically motivated.

APCHRP said Duterte later appeared at a press conference but failed to directly answer the allegations against her.

“Sara Duterte’s statements were filled with political theatrics, yet she failed to provide a clear and credible explanation for the billions of pesos in public funds allegedly squandered or disbursed without proper accountability. Like her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte – whose administration was marred by controversies such as the Pharmally scandal and other corruption allegations – she continues to embody a culture of impunity, abuse of power, and plunder of the people’s money. The Filipino people deserve truth, transparency, and justice, not empty rhetoric and calculated deception,” said Sister Patricia Fox, APCHRP spokesperson.

The impeachment case includes allegations that Duterte misused PHP 612.5 million in confidential funds received by offices she headed as vice president and education secretary.

The amount comprised PHP 500 million allocated to the Office of the Vice President and PHP 112.5 million allocated to the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as its secretary.

The use of the funds was previously examined by the House of Representatives and became a central issue in impeachment complaints filed against Duterte.

APCHRP also cited allegations involving Duterte’s wealth and what the coalition described as her failure to declare her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth from 2022 to 2024.

The impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of misusing public funds, accumulating unexplained wealth, committing bribery and corruption, and threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and a former House speaker.

Duterte disputes the accusations and maintains that prosecutors must prove their allegations before the Senate impeachment court.

“This is the true face of bureaucrat capitalism in the Philippines. Those in public office accumulate wealth through public service, turning government positions into instruments for private enrichment. They profit from the people’s money while millions of Filipinos are driven deeper into poverty. Meanwhile, the Duterte family continues to wallow in luxury, enriching themselves and feeding their greed at the expense of the Filipino people,” Fox added.

APCHRP said members of the international community monitoring the proceedings were also concerned about the participation of Sens. Jinggoy Estrada, Rodante Marcoleta, and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

The coalition criticized what it described as a Senate decision allowing the three senators to cast votes despite their failure to fully participate throughout the impeachment proceedings.

APCHRP said the arrangement could create the perception that the proceedings were uneven and favorable to Duterte.

At least 16 votes from the 24-member Senate are required to convict the vice president.

A conviction could result in Duterte’s removal from office and disqualification from holding public office, affecting her announced plan to seek the presidency in 2028.

The coalition separately said Marcos should be held accountable over allegations of corruption and betrayal of public trust.

APCHRP pointed to controversial flood-control projects, unprogrammed appropriations, and the administration’s use of confidential funds as issues requiring public scrutiny.

The coalition said Marcos approved the budgets and government programs involved and therefore bore political responsibility for their implementation.

A House justice committee earlier dismissed two impeachment complaints against Marcos as insufficient in substance.

Committee members said many of the allegations were difficult to validate, did not directly implicate the president, or did not fall squarely within the constitutional grounds for impeachment.

The Marcos administration welcomed the dismissal and said the required process had been followed.

“President Marcos Jr. is the chief architect of a system that enables corruption. By allowing the misuse of public funds and opening the country’s resources to foreign monopoly interests in exchange for political and economic gain, his administration has institutionalized plunder and kickback politics. While ordinary Filipinos struggle with deepening poverty, those in power continue to enrich themselves through the machinery of government,” Fox said.

APCHRP also supported calls for the complete abolition of confidential and intelligence funds.

The coalition argued that the funds had become breeding grounds for corruption, pork-barrel politics, and the abuse of public resources.

APCHRP called on individuals, organizations, and human rights advocates across the Asia-Pacific region to closely monitor the Senate proceedings.

It also urged anti-corruption advocates to support demands for accountability and oppose the use of public office for private enrichment instead of genuine public service.

Primary sources included the APCHRP statement supplied for this report, Senate proceedings, The Associated Press, and Reuters.