MANILA — The House Committee on Justice has issued a subpoena compelling the Office of the Ombudsman to release Vice President Sara Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) covering nearly two decades, while also ordering the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to submit records of its probe into an alleged death threat case. The move comes as part of the ongoing impeachment hearings against Duterte.

On March 25, 2026, the House panel voted overwhelmingly, with 34 lawmakers in favor and only one against, to issue a subpoena duces tecum for Duterte’s SALNs. The subpoena covers her years in public office from 2007 to 2013, 2016 to 2022, and 2022 to 2025, spanning her tenure as Davao City mayor and as Vice President. Lawmakers said the documents are crucial in establishing a documentary record for the impeachment proceedings.

The committee also directed the NBI to turn over its findings on an alleged assassination threat involving Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The subpoena seeks to clarify the circumstances surrounding the reported threat, which has become a point of contention in the impeachment complaints.

Representative Joel Chua, chairperson of the House good government and public accountability panel, emphasized that the subpoenas are necessary to ensure transparency and accountability. “We need to establish the facts with documentary evidence, and the SALNs are critical in determining whether there are discrepancies in the Vice President’s declared wealth,” Chua said during the hearing.

The impeachment complaints against Duterte accuse her of misuse of confidential funds and abuse of authority. Critics argue that her wealth declarations must be scrutinized to determine if they align with her official income and resources. Supporters, however, claim the proceedings are politically motivated and designed to weaken her position ahead of the 2028 elections.

The NBI probe into the alleged death threat adds another layer of complexity to the case. Lawmakers said the investigation records could shed light on whether Duterte made statements that could be construed as threats against President Marcos Jr., an allegation she has strongly denied.

The House panel’s decision underscores its determination to pursue the impeachment process despite Duterte’s refusal to attend the hearings. Her legal team has maintained that the proceedings are unconstitutional, but the committee insists it has the mandate to continue.

For now, the subpoenas mark a significant escalation in the impeachment hearings, signaling that lawmakers intend to build a comprehensive case with documentary and investigative evidence. The next sessions are expected to focus on the presentation of these records, which could play a pivotal role in determining whether the complaints will advance to the Senate for trial.

This development highlights the growing political tension between Duterte and Congress, with the outcome of the subpoenas likely to shape the trajectory of the impeachment proceedings in the weeks ahead.