Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte Faces Impeachment For The Second Time

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The Philippine House of Representatives has voted to impeach Vice-President Sara Duterte for a second time, escalating a bitter political conflict that could derail her widely anticipated bid for the presidency in 2028.

The impeachment complaint, approved on Monday, now moves to the Senate, where lawmakers will conduct a trial that could determine Duterte’s political future. If convicted, the 47-year-old vice-president would be removed from office and permanently barred from holding public office, effectively ending any chance of succeeding President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Duterte, the daughter of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, remains one of the country’s most influential political figures and has consistently led early opinion polls for the 2028 presidential race. However, the latest impeachment proceedings mark a dramatic escalation in the collapse of her alliance with Marcos, once considered one of the Philippines’ most powerful political partnerships.

The case against Duterte centres on allegations that she misused public funds and made public threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Martin Romualdez, the president’s cousin and former speaker of the House of Representatives. The accusations have intensified political tensions within the government and deepened divisions among supporters of the Marcos and Duterte political dynasties.

This is the second time Duterte has faced impeachment proceedings. In 2025, lawmakers approved similar charges, but the Philippine Supreme Court halted the process on procedural grounds before the Senate could begin a trial. The case resurfaced this year after a House committee reviewing the allegations concluded that there was sufficient evidence to justify another impeachment complaint.

Despite mounting pressure, Duterte has strongly rejected the accusations and accused her opponents of orchestrating a politically motivated campaign to destroy her reputation ahead of the next presidential election. In a formal written response submitted to lawmakers, she dismissed the impeachment complaint as “nothing more than a scrap of paper” and refused to participate in committee hearings, arguing that the process lacked fairness and credibility.

Following Monday’s vote, Duterte’s legal team insisted the burden of proof now rests with lawmakers pursuing the case. Her defence counsel said prosecutors would need to substantiate their claims under Philippine law during the Senate trial, which is expected to become one of the country’s most closely watched political battles in recent years.

The Senate has not yet announced a timetable for the impeachment trial, but the proceedings are expected to dominate Philippine politics in the months ahead. With Sara Duterte still viewed as a leading contender for the presidency, the outcome could have major consequences for the country’s political future and the balance of power among its influential ruling families.