Sara Duterte: why is the Philippines vice-president facing an impeachment trial?
The impeachment trial of Philippine vice-president Sara Duterte begins Monday, in a case that will determine whether she can run for the presidency in 2028, and which comes amid rising public anger over...
The impeachment trial of Philippine vice-president Sara Duterte begins Monday, in a case that will determine whether she can run for the presidency in 2028, and which comes amid rising public anger over alleged government corruption.
Sara Duterte is the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity at The Hague. She is facing allegations she misused public funds, amassed unexplained wealth, bribed officials and threatened the lives of the nation’s president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, and the first lady. She has previously denied the allegations.
Duterte was impeached on similar grounds last year but avoided a trial after she successfully petitioned the supreme court to declare the move unconstitutional on a technicality. In May, she was impeached again by the House of Representatives.
The Senate will now judge whether there is merit to the case.
Why is this trial significant?
More than 6,000 police officers, including anti-riot squads, were deployed to secure the Senate on Monday, where pro-and anti-Duterte demonstrators were expected to converge, in a sign of how politically volatile the trial is seen.
The outcome of the impeachment trial could directly affect the next election in the Philippines. A guilty verdict would bar Sara Duterte from public office and derail her 2028 presidential bid. She is currently seen as the frontrunner in the race.
Many see her case in the context of an ongoing political feud between the Duterte and Marcos families, with some analysts suggesting that Marcos is seeking to block Duterte’s presidential ambitions.
The two families joined forces when Duterte stood as Marcos’ vice-presidential running mate in the 2022 elections, which they won in a landslide, but big rifts have since emerged. The arrest of Rodrigo Duterte and pending trial at the international criminal court is a major flashpoint.
An overwhelming majority in the lower house, dominated by allies of president Marcos, voted to bring Duterte’s case to trial.
What are the charges?
The charges include allegations relating to the misuse of funds under her office as vice-president, discrepancies in financial statements, bribery and cash payments to officials.
Charges also relate to alleged threats to the lives of the president and his wife, based on a November 2024 press conference. Duterte later said the comments were misinterpreted.
She has generally denied the charges but has refused to publicly answer the allegations in detail ahead of the trial. Her supporters have accused Marcos and his key aides of politically persecuting the vice-president. She did not immediately respond to the Guardian’s request for comment.
How will a decision be reached?
A conviction requires two-thirds of the Senate to vote for it.
Maria Ela L Atienza, political science professor at the University of the Philippines (UP), said given the current composition of the Senate, there is a 50/50 chance Duterte will be convicted.
However, all the evidence has yet to be presented and public opinion will also be a powerful factor for senators’ votes, she said.
Duterte’s trial is expected to go for months. Once both parties finish presenting their evidence, the impeachment court will deliberate and vote on each charge.
While impeachment complaints against high-ranking officials are common in the Philippines, to date no politician has ever been convicted.
What has been the reaction to the case?
The trial has proven “divisive” and heightened political polarisation, said Jean Encinas-Franco, a professor of political science at the UP.
Filipinos are getting fed up with perceived corruption, with protests consistently calling for not only the conviction of the vice-president, but transparency for all, including Marcos’ promises of accountability after a massive scandal around “ghost” flood protection projects.
“People are getting impatient with political leaders,” said Atienza of the political mood “However, there are also allies and supporters of the vice-president conducting their own protests and propaganda, claiming that the vice-president and her family … are victims and being targeted by the Marcos administration,” she said.
