Philippine House Impeaches Vice President Sara Duterte
The Philippine House of Representatives has impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, with at least 215 lawmakers signing a petition to remove her from office. The move, largely backed by allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., escalates the deepening political feud between the two camps.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco confirmed the impeachment during a plenary session, stating that the required number of endorsements had been met. The complaint will now be transmitted to the Senate, which will determine Duterte’s fate in an impeachment trial.
Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has faced multiple impeachment complaints over allegations including threats against President Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, misuse of intelligence funds, and failure to confront Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. The latest charge accuses her of constitutional violations, corruption, and betraying public trust.
Her impeachment coincides with the last day of the congressional session before midterm election campaigns begin in May, raising concerns that time constraints may delay Senate proceedings. However, a special session could be called to expedite her trial.
Duterte has yet to publicly respond to the impeachment. She previously accused Marcos and his allies of corruption and political maneuvering to undermine her potential 2028 presidential bid. Her legal troubles intensified after she claimed to have hired an assassin to kill Marcos, his wife, and Romualdez if she were assassinated—a statement she later downplayed.
Authorities have since increased security for the Marcos family, while the National Bureau of Investigation has subpoenaed Duterte over the threats. Meanwhile, the House continues to probe her alleged misuse of 612.5 million pesos ($10.3 million) in confidential and intelligence funds.
Marcos and Duterte initially ran as allies in the 2022 elections but have since clashed over key issues, including China’s territorial claims and the legacy of Duterte’s father’s controversial drug war. The International Criminal Court continues to investigate the elder Duterte’s crackdown, which left thousands dead and raised human rights concerns globally.
