Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte impeached by House of Representatives

Manila: Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte has been impeached by the House of Representatives, with over half of its more than 300 members supporting the impeachment complaint. This move sets the stage for a trial in the Senate, marking a critical juncture in Duterte's tenure.

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Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has been accused of misusing millions of dollars in confidential funds during her tenure as Education Secretary. She's also been accused of threatening President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, which she denies.

The impeachment complaint lists 24 articles, including graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes. Duterte claims she's the victim of a political vendetta, fueled by her bitter feud with Marcos.

This move is seen as an escalation of their long-standing rivalry, which has kept the nation on edge. The feud began when Duterte resigned as Education Secretary in June 2024, citing differences with Marcos. Since then, tensions have risen, with Duterte publicly criticizing Marcos' leadership.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his allies holds a majority in the House. Despite being seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, Duterte has faced at least four impeachment complaints from legislators and activist groups.

The complaints against Duterte cite various issues. Allegations of misusing billions of pesos in confidential funds during her tenure as Davao City mayor and Vice President have been raised. Accusations of failing to properly account for substantial government budgets have also been made. Duterte's refusal to attend congressional hearings has been cited as another ground for impeachment. Additionally, allegations of accumulating PHP111 million in personal accounts and hundreds of millions more in joint accounts with her father have been made. Furthermore, accusations of abandoning her duties during Typhoon Carina in July and failing to address Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea have been raised.

The Senate will now serve as an impeachment tribunal, trying the Vice President on these charges.

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