The Philippine House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Monday to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, throwing her announced 2028 presidential run into doubt. The House, dominated by allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., voted 255-26 with nine abstentions to send the impeachment complaints to the Senate, which will convene as a tribunal for her trial. A guilty verdict would remove Duterte from office and bar her from elected office for life.
Allegations Against Duterte
The impeachment complaint includes allegations of graft, corruption, bribery, misuse of state funds, and an alleged assassination threat against President Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. One of the most serious allegations involves private bank transactions flagged by the anti-money laundering agency exceeding $110 million. House member Terry Ridon, a main complainant, stated, "The scale of these transactions cannot be reasonably explained by lawful income, declared assets, or the businesses and professional activities attributed to the couple."
Duterte's Response
The vice president, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, has generally denied any wrongdoing without addressing the criminal allegations in detail. On May 7, she told supporters, "Based on our discussion earlier with former President Duterte, everything that happens in a person's life is written by God. So, if I am impeached, that is written by God. If I am not impeached, see you tomorrow." She made these remarks after visiting her father in The Hague, where he faces an ICC trial over his deadly "war on drugs."
Senate Leadership Change
Minutes before the House vote, the Senate elected Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, a long-time ally of Duterte, as its new president. Cayetano, who served as foreign secretary under former president Rodrigo Duterte, replaced Vicente Sotto III after a 13-9 vote with two abstentions. The change in Senate leadership could play a crucial role in the outcome of the impeachment trial. Cayetano denied any connection between his election and the House vote, saying, "I do not blame you if you're saying that the change in leadership was due to the impeachment. It was not."
What Happens Next
Under the Philippine constitution, an impeachment triggers a trial in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote is required to convict and remove her from office. A guilty verdict would also disqualify her from holding any government office. A previous impeachment motion against Duterte was passed by the House in 2025 with 215 votes but was later voided by the Supreme Court over constitutional technicalities.
Political Background
Duterte and Marcos ran as a ticket in the 2022 elections, but their political alliance later unraveled, leading to a bitter split. Duterte has already declared her intention to run for president in 2028. The impeachment proceedings cast significant doubt on her political future.
