Philippine Senate begins impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte

The Philippine Senate has initiated impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, a move that could significantly impact her political career and her potential bid for the presidency in 2028. Thousands of police were deployed around the Senate building to tighten security as supporters gathered outside, demanding Duterte's conviction.

Duterte's office announced shortly before the proceedings began that she would not appear in person, choosing instead to be represented by her legal team. "We, as her lawyers, are here to prove that all the accusations against her are baseless," stated one of her lawyers, Michael Poa. In a separate statement, Duterte asserted that her decision to be represented by lawyers, rather than testify personally, did not diminish her accountability or transparency.

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We, as her lawyers, are here to prove that all the accusations against her are baseless.

The Vice President, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was impeached by the House of Representatives on May 11. The charges include alleged misuse of public funds, corruption, bribery, and a plot to assassinate current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a former ally. However, her removal from office requires a two-thirds majority vote from the divided 24-member Senate, which would also disqualify her from holding future elected positions.

Despite the impeachment, Duterte retains significant public support. A poll released in late May showed her leading the race for the 2028 presidential election, with 51 percent of respondents indicating they would vote for her. A key focus of the early trial is expected to be an alleged threat Duterte made in a press conference to hire an assassin to kill Marcos Jr. if he first attempted to kill her. The trial could extend for months, with prosecutors requesting 62 days to present their evidence. Adding a layer of complexity, a senator who was to act as a judge in the proceedings was arrested on corruption charges just over a month ago, becoming the second ally of Sara Duterte in the Senate to face such accusations.

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The decision to be represented by lawyers and not to testify personally does not diminish responsibility or show a lack of transparency.