Philippine Vice President Duterte Faces Impeachment Over Alleged Involvement in Marcos Assassination Plot and Other Claims"

On Wednesday, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte faced impeachment over multiple accusations, including plotting to assassinate the president, involvement in large-scale corruption, and failing to strongly denounce China's aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea against Filipino forces.

This move, led by legislators in the House of Representatives—many of whom are allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—intensifies the political rift between the country’s two highest leaders. Marcos has strengthened defense ties with the United States, while Duterte's father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, maintained close relations with China and Russia during his term, which ended in 2022.

Sara Duterte has not yet commented on her impeachment, but her brother, Representative Paolo Duterte, denounced the move as “political persecution.” He argued that rival lawmakers were quickly gathering signatures to push forward a “baseless impeachment case” to the Senate.

Duterte has frequently accused Marcos, his wife, and his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, of corruption, weak leadership, and trying to silence her due to speculation that she may run for president in 2028 after Marcos’s term ends.

A total of 215 legislators in the lower house signed the impeachment complaint, surpassing the required number to send the petition to the Senate, which would serve as a tribunal to hear the case against the vice president, according to House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco during the final session of the House before a four-month recess.