The Philippine House of Representatives voted Wednesday to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, accusing her of corruption, abuse of power, and plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The unprecedented move intensifies the political battle between the country's two most powerful families and sends the impeachment case to the Senate for trial.

At least 215 lawmakers, many of them Marcos allies, signed the impeachment complaint, surpassing the required one-third of the House's 306 members. Among the signatories were House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the president's cousin, and Rep. Sandro Marcos, his son.

"Duterte's conduct throughout her tenure clearly displays gross faithlessness against public trust and a tyrannical abuse of power," the complaint stated, urging the Senate to convict and remove her from office.

Duterte, who remains vice president during the impeachment process, has denied any wrongdoing. Her brother, Rep. Paolo Duterte, called the move "a clear act of political persecution", accusing Marcos and his allies of launching a baseless impeachment case against his sister.

Assassination Threat, Corruption Allegations at Center of Case

The impeachment complaint against Duterte, once considered a strong contender for the 2028 presidency, stems from multiple accusations, including:

  • A public assassination threat against Marcos, his wife, and Speaker Romualdez
  • Misuse of 612.5 million pesos ($10.5 million) in intelligence funds
  • Failure to strongly denounce Chinese aggression in the South China Sea

In November, Duterte sparked a political firestorm when she publicly stated that she had hired an assassin to kill Marcos, his wife, and Romualdez if she were ever targeted for assassination herself. She later insisted it was not a threat, but a warning about her personal security. The remarks triggered a national security investigation and further widened the rift between her and the president.

The corruption charges stem from a months-long congressional probe into her office's discretionary funds, which lawmakers allege were misused or misallocated during her tenure as both vice president and education secretary. Duterte resigned from her education post in June, citing growing political friction with Marcos.

She has also been accused of unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets as required by law. During televised hearings, she refused to answer detailed questions, further fueling suspicions among legislators.

From Political Alliance to Bitter Rivalry

Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was once a key political ally of Marcos. In 2022, she ran as his vice-presidential running mate, helping deliver a landslide victory by uniting their respective regional power bases. Their campaign centered on a message of national unity, but the partnership has since unraveled.

The tensions escalated over differences in foreign policy, with Marcos strengthening U.S. military ties, while Duterte remained aligned with her father's pro-China stance. The impeachment complaint noted her silence on Chinese incursions into Philippine waters, calling it a betrayal of national sovereignty.

Duterte has fired back at the Marcos administration, calling it corrupt and weak. She has repeatedly accused Marcos and Romualdez of attempting to sideline her to eliminate potential rivals ahead of the 2028 presidential race.

Senate Trial to Decide Duterte's Fate

With the House's approval, the impeachment case now moves to the Philippine Senate, where a two-thirds majority (16 of 24 senators) is needed to convict and remove her from office. A trial date has not been set.

Duterte is the fourth official in Philippine history to be impeached, following former President Joseph Estrada, an ombudsman, and a Supreme Court chief justice.

Marcos initially dismissed the impeachment case as "a storm in a teacup", urging lawmakers to focus on more pressing issues. However, on Monday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stated that the Office of the President would not interfere, effectively allowing the proceedings to move forward.

With the country gearing up for midterm elections, the impeachment battle is expected to shape the political landscape for 2028, with Duterte's supporters framing her removal as a political purge by Marcos's allies.