MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte has been impeached once again by the House of Representatives, reviving a constitutional process that was previously dismissed on procedural grounds and setting the stage for a politically charged Senate trial.
The renewed complaint accuses Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, of alleged misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, and threats directed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and a former House speaker. Duterte has denied all allegations, with her legal team calling the charges defective and politically motivated.
Under the Philippine Constitution, an impeachment approved by the House is transmitted to the Senate, which then sits as an impeachment court with senators acting as judges. The Senate president presides over the proceedings, although past cases have shown that the process can be delayed, derailed, or politically reshaped.
A similar complaint against Duterte was previously voided after being returned by the Senate for constitutional clarification. Philippine impeachment history also includes cases that collapsed due to resignation or procedural breakdown, including the 2001 impeachment trial of former president Joseph Estrada.
Lawmakers proceeded with the latest complaint after a one-year constitutional ban on repeat impeachment filings lapsed, removing a key legal barrier that had previously blocked progress.
The impeachment process now moves into a Senate that has undergone notable leadership changes, raising questions about how the trial will proceed.
Ahead of the House vote, allies of Duterte helped install Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president, a development that places a known political ally of the Duterte family in a position to preside over the impeachment court.
The return of Senator Ronald dela Rosa to active Senate participation also drew attention. A former police chief under Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, dela Rosa had been largely absent from sessions for months before reappearing to support the leadership change. He has been linked to ongoing scrutiny from the International Criminal Court in connection with the administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Political science professor Jean Encinas-Franco of the University of the Philippines said Senate leadership could significantly influence the direction of the proceedings.
“If you are the Senate President or a senator belonging to the majority, you will have the political space to manoeuvre the proceedings of impeachment in a way that will favour whoever your patron is,” she said.
It remains unclear whether Duterte’s opponents can secure the numbers required for conviction. A two-thirds vote of all senators is needed, meaning at least 16 of the 24-member chamber must vote to remove her from office.
Supporters of the impeachment argue that the evidence is strong and warrants conviction. However, shifting alliances in the Senate and the influence of Duterte-aligned blocs have introduced uncertainty into the process.
Analysts note that political alignments in the Philippines are often fluid, with senators balancing legal considerations and strategic positioning ahead of the 2028 presidential election, in which Sara Duterte has indicated she intends to run.
President Marcos has kept a distance from the impeachment effort, stating that it is a matter for Congress. However, his administration has emphasized that allegations should undergo proper legislative scrutiny and due process.
Duterte is among a small number of high-ranking Philippine officials to face impeachment, alongside former president Joseph Estrada, former Ombudsman Aniano Desierto, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, and a former election commission chair. Only Corona was ultimately convicted by the Senate.
If convicted, Duterte would be removed from office and could be barred from holding public positions, potentially ending her presidential ambitions. In the event of a vacancy, the president would nominate a successor from Congress, subject to confirmation by both legislative chambers voting separately.
The Senate’s decision to proceed, delay, or reshape the trial is expected to define not only Duterte’s political future but also the broader balance of power in Philippine national politics.
Additional reporting by Reuters.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
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