The parliament of the Philippines has voted to impeach Vice-President Sara Duterte amid allegations of corruption. She faces accusations of misappropriating millions in public funds and allegedly threatening the life of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Duterte has refuted these claims, asserting that she is a target of a political vendetta. This unexpected decision is largely viewed as a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Duterte and Marcos, which has left the nation in a state of uncertainty for several months.
In a decisive vote, 215 out of 306 members of the House of Representatives supported the impeachment, surpassing the one-third majority required for the motion to advance. The next step involves the 24-member Senate, which will act as an impeachment court. Should she be found guilty, Duterte would be removed from office, marking her as the first vice-president in Philippine history to face impeachment, and she would be permanently disqualified from holding any public office. It is anticipated that she will remain in her position until the Senate reaches a verdict, although a trial date has yet to be established.
While Duterte has not disclosed her future intentions, she is widely regarded as a potential successor to Marcos, who cannot seek re-election in 2028. Both Duterte and Marcos hail from prominent political families and were rivals in the presidential race leading up to the 2022 elections. Although she initially led in opinion polls, Duterte chose to run as Marcos’s vice-presidential candidate, a decision that contributed to their overwhelming victory. However, their alliance has begun to fray as they have pursued divergent political paths and disagreed on key issues, particularly in foreign relations. Marcos has shifted the Philippines’ foreign policy back towards the United States, moving away from the pro-China approach favored by Duterte’s father.
