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Philippines’ Vice-President Duterte faces new corruption charges, sparking political storm

The filing comes as a corruption crisis grows, setting up a tough legal fight that could threaten Duterte’s potential 2028 presidential bid

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Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte delivers a speech at the 90th anniversary celebration of the vice-president’s office in Manila last month. Photo: AP
Bloomberg
A group of civilians including two former government officials, filed a corruption complaint against Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte, in a fresh political challenge for the estranged deputy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr.

The complaint, filed with the Ombudsman’s office on Friday, alleged that Duterte and 15 other officials, misused 612.5 million pesos (US$10.4 million) in public funds through “coordinated schemes” implemented across both the Office of the Vice-President and the Department of Education, which she used to concurrently head until mid-2024, according to a media briefer provided by the complainants.

The group claimed Duterte and the other officials committed criminal violations including the anti-corruption law as well as plunder, bribery and malversation.

A banner calling for the resignation of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and Vice-President Sara Duterte hangs on a crossing bridge in Manila last month. Photo: EPA
A banner calling for the resignation of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and Vice-President Sara Duterte hangs on a crossing bridge in Manila last month. Photo: EPA

Duterte’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The complainants include former presidential adviser Teresita Quintos-Deles and former finance undersecretary Cielo Magno.

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The allegations echo the accusations in the impeachment complaint filed against Duterte, which was shelved by the Senate in August after the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional. The Ombudsman, Jesus Crispin Remulla, can endorse the corruption complaint against Duterte before the Sandiganbayan anti-corruption court.

A conviction will not bar her from running for president in the 2028 elections – where she is a front runner according to polls – unless it becomes final.

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The complaint against the vice-president comes as a widening corruption scandal involving billions of dollars in government funds meant for flood mitigation projects grips the Southeast Asian nation. Duterte has said she is confident she will not be implicated in the scandal.
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