In a dramatic political escalation, the Philippine House of Representatives has impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, leveling a series of serious accusations against her. These include allegations of a plot to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., widespread corruption, and a failure to adequately condemn China's assertive actions in the South China Sea.
This move by the lower house, dominated by Marcos allies, exacerbates the already tense political divide at the highest levels of the Philippine government. The impeachment effort underscores the contrasting foreign policy approaches of Marcos and Duterte. While Marcos has strengthened defense ties with the United States, Duterte's father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, cultivated close relationships with China and Russia during his presidency.
The impeachment complaint garnered substantial support, with over 215 legislators signing the document. Among the signatories were President Marcos's son, Representative Sandro Marcos, and his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The complaint calls for the Senate to convene as an impeachment court, convict Duterte, remove her from office, and disqualify her from holding future public positions. It alleges that Duterte's actions demonstrate a significant breach of public trust and an abuse of power, rendering her unfit for public office.
While Vice President Duterte has not yet responded to the impeachment, her brother, Representative Paolo Duterte, condemned the move as politically motivated persecution. He accused rival lawmakers of rushing a baseless impeachment case to the Senate. The Dutertes and Marcoses, both prominent political families, formed a united front during the 2022 elections, campaigning on a platform of national unity. However, their alliance has since deteriorated.
The impeachment complaint centers on several key issues. One is a death threat Duterte allegedly made against President Marcos, his wife, and House Speaker Romualdez last year. She later clarified that her words were not a threat but an expression of concern for her safety. Other accusations involve alleged misuse of intelligence funds, undeclared wealth, and criticism of the Marcos administration's approach to the South China Sea dispute. Duterte has labeled the administration's handling of the territorial disputes with China a "fiasco" and has been criticized for not speaking out against China's actions in the region.
Allegations of corruption stem from a House investigation into the alleged misuse of substantial confidential and intelligence funds by Duterte's offices. She has refused to answer questions in detail during televised hearings. Duterte has also accused Marcos, his wife, and Romualdez of corruption, weak leadership, and attempting to silence her due to speculation about her potential presidential bid in 2028.
