Tindig Pilipinas on Monday, March 2, formally withdrew its second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying it would instead support the third complaint filed against the Vice President to help speed up proceedings in the House of Representatives.

In a letter submitted to the House Secretary General, the group said the move aims to remove potential procedural obstacles and consolidate support behind a single complaint to facilitate its swift transmission to the Senate for trial.

“Although we stand by the proper and timely filing of our complaint, in order to remove any obstacles against the process of seeking accountability and answers from Vice President Duterte, we believe it is most prudent to withdraw the said complaint,” the complainants said.

According to a report by RH Milky Rigonan, member of the House justice panel, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said the committee respects the decision of Tindig Pilipinas and will take it up during the hearing.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, one of the petitioners of the second impeachment complaint, said the withdrawal would not weaken the case against the Vice President, noting that the articles of impeachment cited in the second complaint are also included in the first, third, and fourth complaints.

“Tandaan po natin ito pong mga complainants ng 2nd impeachment complaint sial rin po ‘yung unang nagfile ng impeachment complaint noong 19th Congress, December 2, 2024. Si ‘yung naghintay ng matagal para after so many months ay talaga namang mapanagot na si VP Sara Duterte. Sa kanyang pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan at sa mga katiwalian,” Cendaña said.

“Hindi po ito pag-atras ito po ay pagsulong na gusto nating matiyak na isang airtight case ang aakyat sa Senado sa lalong madaling panahon,” he added.

The group co-convenor Kiko Aquino Dee, who led the petitioners of the second complaint, read a statement confirming their decision.

“As the petitioners of the second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, we have decided to withdraw our case and lend our full support behind the third impeachment complaint containing the same grave allegations and substantial evidence as ours,” the statement read.

He added, “consolidating our support behind the third complaint will strengthen our position and help move the case forward to the Senate impeachment court. We believe that the impeachment process must proceed at the earliest possible time, free from procedural limbo and unnecessary legal delays that would otherwise obstruct the process. Dapat nang managot si VP Sara sa pandarambong at pang-aabuso niya sa kapangyarihan sa lalong madaling panahon.”

The second impeachment complaint had been endorsed by Cendaña and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima.

As of Monday morning, the House Committee on Justice is scheduled to begin deliberations on the impeachment complaints against Duterte at 10 a.m. today, whether the three verified impeachment complaints against the Vice President are sufficient in form and substance before proceeding further with the process.

The decision to withdraw the second complaint will be formally manifested during the committee hearing.