Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte has been impeached by lawmakers in a decisive vote by the House of Representatives, setting the stage for a potential Senate trial that could lead to her removal from office.
The vote, held on Wednesday, was prompted by serious allegations that Ms. Duterte misappropriated millions of dollars in public funds and allegedly plotted the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The political landscape in the Philippines has been tense, with a longstanding feud between the Dutertes and Marcos and his allies.
House of Representatives Secretary-General Reginald Velasco announced that at least 215 lawmakers supported the petition for impeachment. The resolution accuses Ms. Duterte of multiple offenses, including “violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.”
As of now, a representative for Ms. Duterte has not commented on the impeachment. President Marcos has publicly stated that he does not endorse the impeachment but emphasized that he has no authority over legislative decisions.
The next phase rests with the Philippines’ 24 senators, as a two-thirds majority vote is required to convict Ms. Duterte, which would not only remove her from office but also bar her from holding any future public positions. A trial date has yet to be announced, leaving Ms. Duterte’s political future uncertain.
