Ombudsman defers VP Sara Duterte case pending impeachment trial

Ombudsman Samuel Martires announced that his office will hold off on resolving the case against Vice President Sara Duterte until after her impeachment trial concludes.

Martires explained that the Ombudsman's office has the authority to investigate but not to prosecute impeachable officials, and would be powerless to charge Duterte if she is acquitted by the impeachment court.

He clarified that the Ombudsman's action on the report filed by the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability was not an attempt to sabotage the impeachment trial or usurp Congress's power.

Martires stated that, according to their rules, committee reports submitted to the Ombudsman must be treated as formal complaints and not disregarded.

The Ombudsman's office had asked Duterte to file a counter-affidavit on June 19 regarding allegations of misuse of confidential funds from the Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President.

Vice President Sara Duterte submitted her counter-affidavit to the Ombudsman on Friday, June 27, 2025.