The Philippine House of Representatives has endorsed an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The case now moves to the Senate, where 23 senators will serve as jurors in a rare trial that could remove Duterte from office and bar her from holding future positions.
The specific grounds for impeachment remain unclear, but Duterte has denied wrongdoing, calling the move a political vendetta. The lower house’s Secretary General, Reginald Velasco, confirmed that 215 of 306 lawmakers backed the complaint, marking a significant setback for the Duterte family.
The impeachment comes amid a deepening rift between Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., following the collapse of their powerful political alliance. Tensions escalated in November when Duterte claimed she had contracted an assassin to kill Marcos, the first lady, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were targeted. She later said her remarks were taken out of context.
While Marcos has stated he does not support her impeachment, he acknowledged that he has no control over Congress. Duterte’s representative has not yet commented on the endorsement.
If removed, Duterte would be the fourth top Philippine official to be impeached, following ex-President Joseph Estrada, a former Supreme Court chief justice, and an ombudsman. Grounds for impeachment include treason, bribery, graft, and betrayal of public trust.
Davao congressman Paolo Duterte, Sara’s brother, condemned the impeachment as a “desperate and politically motivated” attack, warning it would not end in their favor.
The Duterte family, known for its strong influence, rose to prominence when Rodrigo Duterte became president in 2016, launching a controversial drug war that reshaped Philippine politics.