Impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte opens, with 2028 presidential bid at stake
The Philippine Senate convenes as an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Duterte on charges of corruption and death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a case that could bar her from the 2028 presidential race.
The charges
Sara Duterte faces allegations of amassing unexplained wealth, misusing public funds, and threatening to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first lady, and a former House Speaker. She denies all charges, calling the case politically motivated. The House of Representatives impeached her last month with an overwhelming majority, the second impeachment attempt after the Supreme Court struck down a previous one last year.
Political stakes
A conviction requires 16 of the 24 senators and would remove her from office and permanently bar her from public office, derailing her plan to run for president in 2028. Opinion polls show her as a leading contender. Duterte's allies in the Senate recently lost control of the majority after briefly taking over in May, a shift that could make conviction more likely. The trial tests public confidence in institutions; analysts warn that a perceived partisan verdict could fuel unrest, recalling the 2001 Estrada impeachment that led to mass protests.
- Marcos and Duterte elected as running mates.
- First impeachment attempt voided by Supreme Court.
- House impeaches Duterte again with overwhelming majority.
- Impeachment trial opens in the Senate.
- Trial expected to conclude after 92 days, per pretrial plan.
The dynastic feud
The trial is the latest flashpoint in the bitter split between the Marcos and Duterte dynasties, who joined forces in the 2022 elections but quickly fell out. Marcos has deepened defense ties with the United States and confronted China in the South China Sea, while the Dutertes cultivated Beijing and Moscow. The vice president has blamed Marcos for the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained in The Hague awaiting trial for crimes against humanity over his deadly drug war.
Trial logistics and security
More than 6,000 police, including anti-riot squads, have been deployed around the Senate as pro- and anti-Duterte demonstrators gather. The trial's duration is uncertain; a pretrial plan seen by the Associated Press sets it at 92 days, but procedural disputes could extend it, as happened with a 2012 chief justice impeachment that lasted four months.
What analysts say
If it is seen as politically motivated or lacking credibility, questions may linger regardless of the outcome.
Congressman Robert "Ace" Barbers, spokesperson for the prosecution, said the evidence would speak for itself.They really have to make sure that both the prosecution and the defence are given enough time and voice... so the public does not perceive the trial as favouring one side.
