Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte Impeached by House Amidst Political Feud
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on Wednesday after a majority of lawmakers, largely comprised of allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., signed a petition calling for her removal from office, The Associated Press reports.
The impeachment comes amidst a growing and increasingly public feud between Duterte and Marcos, her running mate in the 2022 elections.
House of Representatives Secretary General Reginald Velasco announced to a packed plenary session that at least 215 legislators had signed the impeachment petition, surpassing the required threshold for impeachment. The complaint, accusing Duterte of violating the constitution, betraying public trust, corruption, and other high crimes, will now be transmitted to the Senate, which will act as an impeachment tribunal to try the Vice President.
While Duterte has yet to officially respond to the impeachment, the move underscores the escalating political tensions between her and the Marcos administration. Sources indicate the VP has been increasingly at odds with the President and his allies, including House Speaker Martin Romualdez, with whom she has traded barbs in recent months.
Duterte, who is widely considered a potential contender for the presidency in the 2028 elections, has faced a barrage of criticism and at least four impeachment complaints from various legislators and left-wing activist groups. The issues cited range from alleged irregularities in the use of her office’s confidential and intelligence funds to her perceived inaction regarding Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. Most notably, she is facing scrutiny for a death threat she allegedly made against President Marcos, his wife, and Speaker Romualdez last year.
The timing of the impeachment raises questions about its potential success. With the House impeachment taking place on the last day of the current congressional session before campaigning begins for the May midterm elections, which will determine new legislators for both the House and Senate, the Senate may struggle to complete a trial. A special session could be called to expedite the proceedings.
The impeachment proceedings are unfolding against the backdrop of Duterte’s increasingly bitter political conflict with Marcos and his allies. In a recent online press conference, she claimed to have hired an assassin to target Marcos, his wife, and Speaker Romualdez if she were to be killed, a statement she later attempted to clarify as a reflection of her personal safety concerns.
The House has also been investigating the alleged misuse of 612.5 million pesos ($10.3 million) in confidential and intelligence funds by Duterte’s offices, both as Vice President and during her tenure as Education Secretary. Duterte, who has since left the education post due to her deepening political differences with Marcos, has largely refused to answer detailed questions during televised hearings, and vehemently protested the temporary detention of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, for allegedly obstructing the inquiry. Lopez has since been released.
Duterte has countered by accusing Marcos, his wife, and Romualdez of corruption, weak leadership, and attempting to silence her due to speculation about her 2028 presidential aspirations. The National Bureau of Investigation subpoenaed Duterte last year to investigate her alleged threats against the President. The police, military, and the national security adviser have since heightened security measures for the Marcos family.
