The Philippine House of Representatives has impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, marking a significant turn of events just days before the onset of midterm election campaigns. The impeachment vote comes amidst allegations of Duterte misusing 612.5 million pesos ($10.3m) of public funds, which led to her resignation from President Marcos's cabinet in June, where she served as the head of the Department of Education. This decision sets a crucial stage for the upcoming elections, expected to influence the political landscape leading to the 2028 presidential race.
Vice President Duterte has consistently denied any wrongdoing, labeling the impeachment proceedings a political vendetta. The House's decision to impeach follows a series of complaints against her, including accusations of plotting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s assassination. In November, Duterte made headlines for an expletive-laden speech in which she claimed she had ordered someone to kill Marcos if she were assassinated.
"Having been filed by more than one-third of the membership of the House of Representatives, or a total of 215 [out of 306] members, … the motion is approved," said House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The impeachment process now moves to the Senate, where Duterte's fate will be decided by a vote. Two-thirds of the 24 senators must support the impeachment for her to be removed from office. This makes Duterte the fourth official in the Philippines to face such proceedings, following former President Joseph Estrada and other high-ranking officials.
President Marcos had previously urged Congress not to pursue the impeachment, describing it as a "storm in a teacup" that could distract lawmakers from their primary duties. Despite his stance, the House moved forward with the proceedings, emphasizing the gravity of the allegations against Duterte.
The charges against Duterte include culpable violation of the constitution, treason, bribery, corruption, and betrayal of public trust. These accusations have sparked intense debate within the political arena, further exacerbating tensions as the country approaches a pivotal election period.
