Game Plan? De Lima Flags Fast Ombudsman Move on Sara Duterte Case
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Former senator suspects move could derail impeachment trial despite strong evidence
JUNE 22,2025
MANILA, Philippines —
Incoming Representative Leila de Lima has raised red flags over what she sees as a “game plan” behind the unusually swift action by the Office of the Ombudsman against Vice President Sara Duterte regarding her alleged misuse of confidential funds.
De Lima, a former justice secretary and vocal critic of the Duterte administration, said the anti-graft body’s recent order for Duterte and nine other officials to submit counter-affidavits might be a strategic move to undermine the impeachment case filed against the Vice President. The probe centers on the alleged P625-million confidential fund misuse—P500 million from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and P125 million from the Department of Education (DepEd)—from 2022 to 2024.
“Out of Character” Speed from the Ombudsman
The House of Representatives passed its committee report recommending criminal charges—including plunder, bribery, technical malversation, and fraud—on June 11. By June 16, the report had reached the Office of the Ombudsman. Just four days later, Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued an order requiring Duterte and her co-respondents to answer the allegations.
For De Lima, this fast-tracked response was surprising, especially given the Ombudsman’s previous sluggish action on complaints involving former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies. She called it “out of character,” and questioned the timing, as Martires is expected to retire next month.
She also reminded the public that the Ombudsman has no disciplinary jurisdiction over impeachable officials like the Vice President. Under Philippine law, it may investigate such officials only to file an impeachment complaint in Congress, but that’s now redundant—because the House has already initiated the impeachment process.
Game Plan-Preempting the Impeachment?
De Lima expressed concern that the Ombudsman’s sudden probe may be an attempt to clear Duterte before the Senate can convene as an impeachment court. If the Ombudsman dismisses the charges citing “lack of probable cause,” she warned that Duterte’s legal team might use it to file a motion to dismiss the impeachment altogether.
“I honestly believe their strategy is to avoid trial—at all costs,” De Lima said. “Despite VP Sara’s posturing and threats of a ‘bloodbath,’ the legal defense might try to cut the process short with a favorable ruling.”
The House’s Power Still Stands
Still, De Lima reassured the public that any ruling from the Ombudsman does not invalidate the impeachment process, which was initiated by one-third of the House of Representatives.
“Even if the Ombudsman clears Duterte, that only matters if they were the ones to file the impeachment case. But in this situation, it was the House that took action. Their complaint stands on its own,” she explained, citing Section 3(4), Article XI of the 1987 Constitution. NOWTREND
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