MANILA — Philippine lawmakers on Monday overwhelmingly voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, setting the stage for a Senate trial that could bar her from holding public office and derail a widely anticipated presidential bid in 2028.
The House of Representatives approved the impeachment complaint with 257 lawmakers voting in favor, 25 against, and nine abstentions, surpassing the one-third threshold required under the Constitution. The complaint was backed by a coalition of activists, religious groups, and lawyers.
Duterte is accused of misusing public funds, amassing unexplained wealth, and allegedly issuing threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and a former House speaker. She has denied all allegations.
The impeachment now moves to the Senate, which will convene as an impeachment court. Senators will act as jurors in a trial that could result in Duterte’s removal from office and a lifetime ban from political participation if she is convicted.
Her legal team said it is prepared to contest the charges.
“We are fully prepared to defend the Vice President before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court, where it is incumbent upon the prosecution to discharge the burden of proof,” the defense said in a statement.
The political stakes are high in a country where Duterte had been considered the frontrunner to succeed President Marcos Jr., who is constitutionally limited to a single six-year term. The impeachment introduces significant uncertainty into the 2028 presidential race.
The case also deepens a widening rift between Duterte and Marcos, who were once political allies before their relationship deteriorated in recent years.
The impeachment adds to mounting pressure on the Duterte political clan. Former president Rodrigo Duterte, her father, is currently facing proceedings before the International Criminal Court over alleged human rights violations linked to his administration’s anti-drug campaign, which resulted in thousands of deaths.
This is not the first impeachment attempt against the vice president. A similar move in the House last year was invalidated by the Supreme Court due to procedural issues.
In a notable development during Monday’s proceedings, the Senate experienced a leadership shake-up after a motion removed its president and installed Alan Peter Cayetano, a known Duterte ally. Cayetano previously ran alongside Rodrigo Duterte in past elections, a shift that could influence the conduct of the upcoming trial.
Lawmakers supporting the impeachment said the process reflects constitutional duty rather than political motivation.
“The Filipino people deserve a trial that is fair, impartial and rooted in the rule of law,” said Bienvenido Abante, one of the lawmakers who endorsed the complaint.
Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker Jose Manuel Diokno said the evidence presented warranted accountability.
“We have seen the smoking gun,” he said during the House session following the vote.
The Senate trial is expected to be one of the most closely watched political proceedings in recent Philippine history, with potential implications for both governance stability and the 2028 presidential succession.
Additional reporting from AP
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