In a major development reshaping Philippine politics, the House of Representatives has approved a second impeachment vote against Vice President Sara Duterte, clearing the way for a Senate trial that could permanently end her presidential ambitions for the 2028 election.
Monday’s vote crossed the required one-third threshold easily, with 255 out of 290 attending lawmakers backing the impeachment move. The case centers on two core allegations: unauthorized misuse of public funds during Duterte’s tenure as vice president, and public threats she made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
This is not the first time impeachment proceedings have been brought against Duterte on identical grounds. The first attempt in 2025 was derailed by the Philippine Supreme Court, which blocked the process on a technicality before it could reach the Senate for trial. The case was revived earlier this year, and last week a House investigative committee concluded there was enough credible evidence to support moving forward with impeachment.
Duterte has repeatedly dismissed the proceedings as a politically motivated sham. In a formal written statement responding to the committee’s ruling, she called the case “nothing more than a scrap of paper,” and refused to participate in the committee hearings, citing what she claims is a biased, partisan process.
The lopsided House vote is widely seen as a clear demonstration of Marcos’ retained influence over the lower chamber of Congress. Unlike House members, who are elected by individual legislative districts and typically align with the sitting president to secure patronage and resources for their constituencies, the 24-member Senate is elected nationally and has long served as a launching pad for future presidential and vice presidential candidates.
The path to a conviction remains far from certain, however. Half of the Senate seats were up for grabs in the 2025 midterm elections, and candidates aligned with Duterte outperformed those running under Marcos’ ruling coalition. In a political system defined by shifting dynastic alliances and flexible multi-party loyalties, forecasting the outcome of an impeachment trial is exceptionally difficult.
For Duterte, a conviction would result in immediate permanent disqualification from holding any public office, scrapping her well-publicized plan to run for president in 2028. The 47-year-old politician, daughter of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, currently holds a commanding lead in early presidential polling. A March 2026 survey by Manila-based pollster WR Numero placed her 17 percentage points ahead of her closest competitor.
The current rift between Duterte and Marcos marks a dramatic reversal of fortune for the once-powerful political alliance that swept both into office in the 2022 national election. Duterte was originally the frontrunner to succeed her father as president in 2022, but agreed to run for vice president alongside Marcos to unify their support bases and block a rising reformist opposition. The ticket won election by a landslide, but the partnership quickly fractured as the two leaders pursued conflicting political agendas.
Tensions boiled over after Marcos allies led by Romualdez launched an investigation into allegations of misappropriated funds in Duterte’s vice presidential office. During a fiery late-night online address at the height of the probe, Duterte openly stated she had instructed an associate that if she were killed, the associates should target Marcos, the first lady, and Romualdez.
The relationship deteriorated further last March, when Marcos granted authority to the International Criminal Court to arrest former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at The Hague awaiting trial on crimes against humanity charges linked to thousands of deaths during his controversial war on drugs.