Impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte opened in Manila

Serious Charges

Particularly grave is the accusation that in late 2024 she threatened to have the president, his wife, and the then speaker of parliament killed should she herself be assassinated. If convicted, she would not only lose her office but would also never be permitted to hold public office again.

Marcos and Duterte had jointly won the presidential and vice-presidential election in 2022. Their families and camps are now engaged in a bitter power struggle that has shaped the country's political life for years. Duterte and Marcos belong to different parties and were elected to their offices independently of each other.

Political Background and Security Measures

Before the start of the proceedings, both supporters and opponents of Duterte were expected to gather for rallies. More than 6,000 police officers secured the Senate building in the capital, Manila. According to the Senate, the proceedings could last around three months.

A conviction would also be a severe setback for any potential presidential ambitions in the 2028 election. Observers therefore see the proceedings not merely as a legal turning point but also as a political one in the power struggle between the country's two most influential political families.

Proceedings against the Father at the International Criminal Court

The proceedings against the vice president take place against a further backdrop: her father, Rodrigo Duterte, must shortly answer to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. He faces charges of crimes against humanity in connection with his bloody war on drugs. Thousands of people are said to have been killed in the process, most without trial. Rodrigo Duterte, who served as head of state from 2016 to 2022, is currently in custody, according to information from The Hague.

The indictment against the vice president comprises several counts, including the threat against the president. This charge is described as particularly serious because it is directed against the head of state himself. Over the coming weeks, the senators will have to determine whether the charges are sufficient for a conviction.

Outlook on the Proceedings and the 2028 Election

Observers in Manila see the proceedings as a continuation of the deep political rift between the Marcos and Duterte families. While Duterte's supporters denounce the action as an act of revenge by political opponents, critics see in the charges an attempt to hold the vice president to account. The coming months are therefore regarded as decisive for the political future of the country.

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, must decide in a multi-stage process whether the articles of impeachment suffice to remove Sara Duterte from office. A ruling would have far-reaching consequences – not only for her personally, but also for the political landscape of the Philippines ahead of the 2028 presidential election.