VP Duterte claims impeachment calls used as bargaining chip for budget

Vice President Sara Duterte claimed that lawmakers might be using renewed calls for her impeachment as a bargaining chip for budget allocations ahead of the 2026 national budget's passage.

She stated that this constitutional mechanism is being dangled once again as a bargaining chip, citing a pattern where signatures for her impeachment were allegedly gathered in exchange for budget allocations in February 2024.

However, House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno asserted that there is no link between the 2026 national budget and the plans of some groups to file a new impeachment complaint against the Vice President.

Duterte urged those exploiting the impeachment process to stop hiding behind the language of 'good governance'.

The one-year ban on filing an impeachment case against her is set to expire in February of next year.