Philippine vice president faces historic impeachment trial with political future at stake

The impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has begun, marking a major moment in the country's political history.

The impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has begun, marking a major moment in the country’s political history and putting her future ambitions in serious doubt. If convicted, Duterte will be removed from office and barred from holding any public position, ending her chances of contesting the presidential election in 2028.

The case centres on allegations that Duterte misused millions of dollars in public funds during her time as education minister. She is also accused of making threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Duterte has denied wrongdoing, while her legal team argues that the impeachment process is politically motivated and designed to remove her from national politics.

The trial has intensified the bitter rivalry between the Marcos and Duterte families, whose alliance secured a landslide victory in the 2022 general election before collapsing amid growing political disagreements. The dispute has since dominated Philippine politics and divided many lawmakers and supporters across the country.

A total of 16 votes from the 24 member Senate are required to convict the vice president. However, political observers believe the outcome remains uncertain because the Senate is deeply divided between supporters of Marcos and Duterte. Alliances within the chamber have shifted repeatedly in recent months, making it difficult to predict how senators will vote when the trial concludes.

The political situation has become even more complicated after two senators aligned with Duterte were recently arrested while another is in hiding following action by the International Criminal Court. It remains unclear whether any of them will be allowed to participate in the final vote if they are unable to attend the proceedings in person.

Opening the prosecution’s case, Congresswoman Gerville Luistro argued that public officials must be held accountable for the use of taxpayers’ money regardless of their position. She questioned why ordinary government employees are expected to explain missing public funds while senior leaders should be treated differently. Prosecutors say Duterte has refused to provide details about disputed spending, claiming the expenses involved confidential matters.

Duterte’s lawyer, Sheila Sison, rejected the allegations and insisted the impeachment case is an attempt to remove a popular political figure. She pointed out that Duterte received more than 32 million votes in the 2022 election, giving her one of the strongest public mandates in the country. The vice president did not attend the opening day of the trial.

Security was significantly increased around the Senate building in Metro Manila as thousands of police officers were deployed to prevent possible unrest. Supporters of both the Marcos and Duterte camps gathered outside while journalists from across the country closely followed the proceedings. Many Filipinos also watched the trial through live broadcasts and public viewing events.

The Senate has allocated up to 92 days for the proceedings, making it the first impeachment trial of a sitting vice president in Philippine history. The trial follows months of growing political instability, including repeated leadership changes in the Senate and legal action involving several prominent Duterte allies.

President Marcos has publicly distanced himself from the proceedings, saying he remains focused on government responsibilities rather than monitoring the trial. At the same time, his office encouraged Duterte to attend the hearings and respond directly to the accusations. The vice president dismissed those remarks, saying her decision not to appear in court does not affect her accountability and that the president’s views on the case are of no concern to her.

With the country’s political future hanging in the balance, the impeachment trial is expected to remain the focus of national attention over the coming weeks as lawmakers decide whether Sara Duterte can continue serving as vice president and remain eligible to seek higher office in the future.