Plunder, other charges filed vs. Sara Duterte and 15 others over confidential funds

Members of civil society groups filed multiple charges before the Ombudsman against Vice President Sara Duterte and 15 other government officials on Friday, Dec. 12.

According to reports, among the charges filed are plunder, bribery, graft, and malversation of Duterte and officials from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

The complaint stemmed from the alleged "irregular" and "unsupported" use of the P612.5 million in confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President under Duterte.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on Feb. 5, garnering 215 votes out of 306 House members. Escudero had confirmed that all 215 signatures on the letter sent to the Senate were "wet" signatures, confirming they were physically signed and not electronic.

The House listed seven articles for Duterte’s impeachment, including committing betrayal of public trust, committing culpable violation of the Constitution and/or committing high crimes in plotting to assassinate Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez; and misuse and malversation of confidential funds appropriated to the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, among others.

On July 25, the Supreme Court voided the impeachment complaint against her, ruling it was unconstitutional.

Then in August, the Senate voted to "archive" the impeachment complaint against Duterte.