The House of Representatives has officially impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on the final day of its session, Wednesday, February 5, 2025. With 153 lawmakers signing the impeachment complaint, the process will now move to the Senate, where she will face trial. Only 101 votes were needed to forward the case.
Duterte is accused of misuse of public funds, violating the Constitution, and betraying public trust—three separate impeachment complaints filed against her in recent months. The allegations primarily stem from the reported misappropriation of over PHP 612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to her offices as Vice President and former Education Secretary. Critics claim these funds were spent without transparency, with allegations of fabricated financial reports and obstruction of congressional investigations.
Another major point of contention is her controversial remarks about potential threats to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In a November 2024 press conference, Duterte claimed she had arranged for a hitman to target Marcos, his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the event of her own assassination. While she later clarified that these were hypothetical statements reflecting concerns for her safety, lawmakers have cited them as evidence of betrayal of public trust and questioned her fitness for office.
The impeachment effort highlights the growing divide between Duterte and Marcos, who were once allies during the 2022 elections. Their relationship has since soured due to political and policy disagreements. The House, largely controlled by Marcos’s allies, has swiftly moved forward with the impeachment process, signaling a shift in political alliances.
With the case now heading to the Senate, the next phase of Duterte’s political fate will depend on whether senators vote to convict and remove her from office. The trial could extend for months, influencing the political landscape ahead of the next elections. Duterte has not yet publicly responded to the impeachment vote, but her legal team is expected to challenge the charges in the Senate trial.
