Solons to VP Sara: Impeachment not bargaining chip, budget already with Senate

Impeachment proceedings are evidence-based and not a tool for negotiation, a lawmaker said on Monday in response to Vice President Sara Duterte's allegation that the impending refiling of an impeachment complaint against her was a "bargaining chip" ahead of the passage of the 2026 budget.

"The 2026 budget is still under deliberations in the Senate, so I am uncertain about the basis of this particular comment," House Infrastructure Committee co-chair Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Duterte said that the impeachment process was being turned into a "budget-driven racket" after militant coalition Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) said it is preparing a fresh impeachment complaint against her.

"[T]his constitutional mechanism is being dangled once again as a bargaining chip right before the 2026 National Budget is passed," she added.

In his own statement, Ridon said that impeachment proceedings "are based on facts, evidence and principle."

"It is not subject to bargaining, it is not subject to negotiations," he added.

It is the House of Representatives that files an impeachment complaint against a government official and acts as prosecutor, while the Senate sits as the impeachment court.

Budget out of House already

In separate online interviews, two other lawmakers questioned Duterte's claim that the 2026 budget is being used to gather support for another impeachment complaint against her, saying it was not discussed during budget proceedings.

"Hindi ko po maintindihan yung statement na 'yan kasi unang-una sa House level, tapos na po yung budget process, di ho ba?" House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima of ML Party-list said.

(I don't understand that statement because first of all, at the House level, the budget process is finished, isn't it?)

"Kasi nga, magba-bicam na nga, nasa Senate na. And then during the House proceedings, wala naman mga usap-usapan pa or what, wala naman akong naririnig noon na ire-revive yung impeachment case against her. Ang ano lang is, kaya pinag-uusapan yung posible na pag-file uli ng impeachment complaint is dahil nga wala pa tayong naririnig about the impeachment case whether sa Senate na naka-archive lang o sa Supreme Court na pending yung mga motions for reconsideration."

(The bicam will take place, it's now with the Senate. And during the House proceedings, there was no discussion, and I didn't hear anything about reviving the impeachment case against her. . Maybe why the possible refiling of an impeachment complaint against her is because we have not yet heard about the original impeachment case, whether at the Senate where it's archived or at the Supreme Court, where motions for reconsideration are pending.)

"[P]alagi ho nasa utak namin the fact na hindi pa sarado yung issues of accountability ng ating Vice President. Kaya in other words, hindi pa po siya lusot," de Lima added.

(But it's always in our minds that the issues of accountability surrounding our vice president are still open. In other words, she has not dodged them yet.)

Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers Party-list also said that filing a second complaint never discussed during the budget deliberations in the House.

"Hindi ever napag-usapan yon during the budget process. Hindi naman yung part ng any deliberation of any office or program of a government," he said.

(It was not ever discussed during the budget process. That's not part of any deliberation of any office or program of a government.)

The House of Representatives approved the proposed 2026 budget on third and final reading on October 13.

The measure is now pending before the Senate.

P125 million in 11 days

Tinio also said that Vice President has still not been able to explain the P125 million confidential funds spent by the Office of the Vice President in 11 days.

"Nariyan na naman yung panlilinlang typical ng Duterte. Sabi niya, handa naman siyang palagi sagutin ang anumang tanong kaugnay sa paggastos niya ng pondo. Lagi niyang sinasabi yan pero pagka may aktual na venue at pagkakataon na, iiwas siya o hindi sasagot," Tinio said.

"Here again is the deception typical of Duterte. She said she is always ready to answer any questions relating to her office's spending of funds. She always says that, but when there's an actual venue and opportunity for her to do so, she always evades it or does not reply.)

Both members of the House of Representatives believe the Vice President is making allegations to discredit future impeachment complaints that may be filed against her.

"That's a possible reason kung bakit ganyan ang tono ng statement ng VP Sara. Parang inuunahan na naman niya. Pero ang malinaw dito ay meron din siyang serious issues of accountability. Yun po ang lagi kong sinasabi, na hindi pa siya lusot," de Lima said.

(It's like she's trying to get in front of the issue. But what is clear is that she also has serious issues of accountability. That is what I am always saying, that she has not eluded the issue.)

"Malinaw naman ang objective: para i-discredit. At this point, ganito pa lang kaaga, gusto nang i-discredit ng bise presidente ang lehitimong complaint laban sa kanya," Tinio said.

(The objective is clear: to discredit. At this point, as early as now, the Vice President wants to discredit the legitimate complaint against her.)

"Mere allegations, pure speculation at this point. Wala pa ngang bagong impeachment complaint. Kahit yung sinasabing magre-refile by February yung mga complainants, at this point, drawing pa lang yan kumbaga. And yet nagsasalita siya as though kasado na ito at meron ng mga kung anong akusasyon," Tinio added.

(There isn't even a new impeachment complaint filed yet. Even if the supposed complainants will re-file in February, at the point, it's still on the drawing board. And yet she talks as if it has already been filed.)

The earlier articles of impeachment against Duterte were archived by the Senate after the Supreme Court declared them unconstitutional, saying that their filing violated due process.

The Supreme Court also ruled that subsequent impeachment complaints against the Vice President may be filed starting February 6, 2026. — BM, GMA Integrated News