Philippine vice-president Sara Duterte impeached over allegations including plot to kill president Move likely to deepen political rift between Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Philippine vice-president Sara Duterte has been impeached on a range of accusations that include plotting to assassinate the president, large-scale corruption and failing to strongly denounce China’s aggressive actions against Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea.
The impeachment complaint accused Duterte of undermining the Marcos government’s policies, including her description of the administration’s handling of territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea as a “fiasco.” The complaint also mentioned her silence over China’s increasingly assertive actions in the disputed waters.
The impeachment complaint against the vice-president focused on a death threat she allegedly made against the president, his wife and the House speaker last year, alleged irregularities in the use of her office’s intelligence funds and her alleged failure to stand up to Chinese aggression in the disputed South China Sea.
Sara Duterte didn’t immediately comment on her impeachment, but her brother, representative Paolo Duterte, said it was “a clear act of political persecution.” Rival lawmakers manoeuvred to quickly collect signatures and push a “baseless impeachment case” to the Senate, he said.
Duterte has repeatedly accused Marcos, his wife and his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, of corruption, weak leadership and attempting to muzzle her because of speculation she may seek the presidency in 2028 after Marcos’s six-year term ends.
