MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte faces a Senate impeachment trial that could remove her from office and permanently disqualify her from holding public office, four years after she won the 2022 vice presidential election alongside President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The 48-year-old lawyer and former Davao City mayor is the eldest daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte first gained national attention in 2011 when, as Davao City mayor, she punched a sheriff during a court-ordered demolition of a slum community after asking him to postpone the operation.
She emerged as a leading contender in the 2022 presidential race but later agreed to run for vice president alongside Marcos under the UniTeam coalition. The tandem won the election by a wide margin.
The House of Representatives voted to impeach Duterte in May, accusing her of misusing government funds, possessing unexplained wealth, engaging in bribery, and making threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Marcos has previously distanced himself from the impeachment effort, although his allies in the House handled the proceedings.
The House initially impeached Duterte last year, but the Supreme Court stopped the Senate trial on procedural grounds. Lawmakers later filed a second impeachment complaint, which the House approved.
The political alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families began to weaken after the 2022 election when Marcos did not appoint Duterte as defense secretary, the position she had sought.
Duterte later resigned as Education secretary in June 2024 after facing criticism over her department’s budget.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte later accused Marcos of drug use and called on the military and police to take over the government.
During a news conference while facing congressional scrutiny over her spending, Vice President Duterte claimed she was the target of an assassination plot and said she had instructed someone to kill Marcos if she were killed first.
Authorities arrested former President Duterte weeks after the House initiated the first impeachment complaint. They transferred him to the International Criminal Court to face charges related to his anti-drug campaign.
Vice President Duterte announced in February that she intends to run for president in 2028.
Twenty-three senators took their oaths as judges for the impeachment trial in May. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa did not participate after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest.
The Senate needs 16 votes to convict Duterte. A conviction on any impeachment charge would remove her from office and bar her from holding any future elected position.
Only four Philippine officials have faced impeachment trials, and only one—former Chief Justice Renato Corona—was convicted.
Recent political developments have affected several Duterte allies.
The Senate removed Senator Alan Peter Cayetano from the Senate presidency in June.
Authorities arrested Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada the same month over allegations that he received more than P573 million in kickbacks linked to flood control projects.
On Friday, authorities also charged Senator Rodante Marcoleta with graft over his alleged failure to declare $1.2 million in unused campaign funds.
Despite the impeachment proceedings, Duterte continues to receive support from political allies and two Christian religious groups that have held rallies in her favor.
A recent Pulse Asia survey found that 51 percent of respondents said they would vote for Duterte for president.
