Things are heating up for Sara Duterte—and not just in one arena. According to House leader Terry Ridon, the Vice President is now dealing with multiple proceedings all moving forward at the same time, each carrying its own weight and consequences.

Ridon, who chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts and sits in the justice panel, made it clear: these cases may stem from the same set of facts, but they’re not interchangeable. In other words, VP Sara can’t pick and choose which process to engage with.

“Hindi puwedeng pagbanggain ang proceedings,” Ridon explained, pointing out that cases before the Commission on Audit, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the House of Representatives each lead to different outcomes—even if they rely on similar evidence.

P73 Million at the Center

At the heart of the issue is the P73 million in confidential funds flagged by COA. With the audit body affirming its notice of disallowance, the expectation is clear: the money must be returned.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Ridon said the government may pursue civil remedies to recover the amount, which could include garnishment of bank accounts or even going after assets tied to accountable officials. Once the ruling becomes final, those recovery efforts can fully kick in.

Criminal and Political Risks

Meanwhile, over at the Ombudsman, the situation could escalate into something far more serious. The complaint for malversation—essentially the misuse of public funds—may lead to criminal charges. If elevated to the Sandiganbayan, a conviction could mean imprisonment and forfeiture of assets.

On another track, impeachment proceedings in the House are also expected to move forward. Unlike the other cases, impeachment carries constitutional consequences: removal from office and a possible lifetime ban from holding public position.

No Easy Way Out

Here’s the key point Ridon emphasized: even if the P73 million is returned, it won’t make the other cases disappear.

“Kahit maibalik pa ang pera, tuloy pa rin ang mga kaso,” he stressed. The alleged misuse of confidential funds could still be considered a betrayal of public trust—a serious impeachable offense.

What’s Next?

For now, VP Sara’s legal option on the COA ruling is to elevate the matter to the Supreme Court of the Philippines for review. But with multiple proceedings unfolding simultaneously, the road ahead looks anything but simple.

One thing is certain: this isn’t just one case—it’s a complex legal battle playing out on several fronts, all at once.