Philippine Political Turmoil: Senate Divided Over Impeachment Case Against Sara Duterte — A Battle of Alliances and Power
The impeachment proceedings against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte officially commenced today in the Senate in Manila. The charges include misuse of public funds and threats directed at President Marcos. Behind the scenes, the influence of opposition factions (and families) is coming into play, jeopardizing the Senate’s credibility.
Milan (Asia News) – Today, the impeachment process against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte was formally launched in the Senate. She faces allegations of misusing public funds, illicit enrichment, and threatening the President, the First Lady, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This development is the culmination of prolonged and intricate political maneuvering, with all parties preparing for a decision that will not only determine the role of this 48-year-old woman in the nation’s second-highest office but also shape her personal and party’s fate in the 2028 presidential election. Moreover, Sara Duterte herself is entangled in an ongoing case at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where her father, Rodrigo Duterte, is accused of crimes against humanity stemming from his "war on drugs" campaign during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
Philippine bishops have also entered the fray, expressing hope that the trial would “no longer be delayed.”
Against the backdrop of intense conflict among competing forces—and between the Duterte family and the current president’s family, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—the Senate’s verdict will mark a pivotal turning point in national political life. This is not only because the hearing may extend over a long period (depending on the number of witnesses, evidence admissibility, and procedural requirements), but also because it could represent a crucial step in the country’s political journey. It will inevitably influence domestic and international perceptions of democracy and justice, and their complex interplay.
Essentially, the Senate—composed of 24 senators—is facing a crisis of credibility. The body must deliver a verdict by a two-thirds majority, guided by profound responsibility rather than alliances or personal relationships tacitly accepted due to voters’ “forgetfulness,” excessive tolerance, and partisan bias. In this context, the fragile electoral alliance between Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte in 2022 highlights the system’s peculiarities: families still dominate most positions and votes, often tied closely to familial regional roots. The subsequent rifts have not only strained relations between the President and Vice President—two roles carrying significant moral, ethical, and political weight—but have also spread into the legislature itself.
The House of Representatives first approved the impeachment process back in December 2024, nearly a year after the initial accusations were raised. The second bill was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in February 2025 and subsequently frozen until June of the same year, when the House re-examined the case and confirmed the submission of relevant documents to the Senate. After all, the Constitution mandates that the upper house serve as the “court” in such cases.
On May 11, former Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa—a loyalist of Rodrigo Duterte—returned to the House of Representatives after months of absence. This event was interpreted by some political and social groups as a coup attempt. Dela Rosa remains internationally wanted for crimes similar to those attributed to Rodrigo Duterte. His return has enabled pro-Duterte factions to secure a majority in the House, while former Vice President Alan Peter Cayetano, who served under the elder Duterte administration, now leads the chamber. Just one month later, leadership and factional alignments shifted again. Currently, the uncertain stances of other senators, coupled with the referral of Senator Rodante Marcoleta—a key ally of Sara Duterte—to trial on charges of illegal gains, could introduce new dramatic twists and forge unforeseen alliances.
Author: Stefano Vecchia
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870050899522698/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.